Global Team for Local Initiatives Helping People Help Themselves

About GTLI

Global Team for Local Initiatives (GTLI) is dedicated to helping indigenous people lead healthy lives. We work closely with tribal elders to help communities implement sustainable development projects for long-term survival as well as income generating activities for immediate relief.

Currently we work with Hamar tribe communities in remote southwest Ethiopia. Through projects in water, health, education, and income generation,
we are helping this ancient tribe, affected by drought and disease, adapt to their changing world.

GTLI’s unique capacity is our tight integration with the Hamar community.

We began working with the tribe in 2008. In response to urgent needs for water, food, disease prevention, and income generation, GTLI representatives lived with the community, observing, listening and talking with elders about how we could help the people help themselves. Since 2009 GTLI and the community have been implementing projects in water, sanitation and hygiene, income generation and functional adult literacy. Through regular data collection, evaluation and mid-course corrections, we continually refine our partnership and projects. Today:

• 6,000 people have sustainable access to clean water for the first time

• 41% of all GTKI-trained households are regularly using pit latrines, all water points in the participating communities are protected and all Defecation Free Zones are feces-free

• 118 women and men are becoming literate, numerate and learning basic business skills

•  Women are operating the first income generating activities in the community and, for the first time, having their voices heard.

Other Hamar communities are now requesting similar programs.

Because Hamar woreda is GTLI’s field base of operations, we operate cost-effectively in such a remote area. (We are a two-day drive from the capital, Addis Ababa, the main source of equipment and supplies.) Our field staff live in the community, speak fluent Hamar, and are considered trusted experts. Field operations are tightly integrated with our Addis office and our headquarters in the U.S.

meeting hut at GTLI field camp in Wonga Bayno, Ethiopia

GTLI is committed to fiduciary responsibility and transparency. We welcome your questions and comments. Please see our annual report here or contact us at one of the locations below.

Contact:

Government Reporting, Administration

PO Box 11277

Bainbridge Island, WA

(206) 601-1776

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GTLI Operations Office

PO Box 1273

Burnsville, MN 55337

or

9471 Livery Lane (surface deliveries only)

Lakeville, MN 55044

Ethiopia headquarters

Executive Director, program management, Ffnance, administration, donor relations

PO Box 1276

Addis Ababa

251-(0)11-662-9936/7

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Field camp

project coordination, technical experts, community mobilization, stakeholder coordination

Wonga Bayno kebele

Hamar woreda

So Omo Zone, SNNPR

Ethiopia

251- (0)46 88 40 781

Hamar Product Sales and Volunteer Coordination

Northfield, MN

404-513-1233

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