Rahel Tekle had to leave her partner. "He was a drinker, it was too much," she says. In the spring of 2023, she brought her nine-month-old daughter Afomia to the state health center for vaccinations. "The girl weighs far too little," said the nurse. "She is malnourished." Rahel replied: "I have no money for baby food." She only found work as a laundress for a tiny wage sometimes. The nurse advised her to bring the baby into our feeding program.
In our nutrition program, malnourished children and nursing mothers receive a protein-rich grain mixture for six months. The mothers are also taught how to feed their children as balanced a diet as possible, even on a small budget.
At the same time, Rahel Tekle also received an apprenticeship as a housekeeper. Only particularly poor women get this chance. They learn in the training kitchen every day for six months. The lessons are half-day so that the women still have time for paid work. The project's own daycare center was particularly important to Rahel Tekle: "I was able to concentrate fully on the lessons and my daughter was well looked after. She quickly gained weight."
Rahel Tekle recently received her certificate. The training has a good reputation. The graduates work in hotel service, in restaurant kitchens or as carers in nurseries. Some of the women would rather start their own small catering business that they can run from home so that they can also look after their small children there. But everyone leaves the classroom with newfound self-confidence.
"I'm applying for jobs in big hotels," says Rahel Tekle. "My mother will look after my daughter. Whether I work as a waitress or in room service is secondary. The important thing is that I can improve my situation now."
WHY WE HELP
In Addis Ababa, many parents, especially single mothers, cannot care for their young children. They are malnourished and undernourished and are at risk of developmental problems. The children need food and the women need opportunities to earn money.
WHAT WE ACHIEVE
- 387 toddlers and 63 breastfeeding mothers received protein-rich supplementary food in our nutrition program in 2023
- 273 women completed our vocational training as housekeepers
- A total of 1710 women have completed our training so far
