From Silent Struggle to Confident Change-Maker

For years, 36-year-old Zainab, a mother of five from Jiren in rural Jimma, lived with the constant pressure of making ends meet. Her husband, Hassan, worked as a security guard at a local university, but his income was far too small to support the family’s needs. Food shortages, health concerns, and ongoing financial stress were part of their daily reality. The growing tension at home, driven by poverty and the pressure on Hassan as the sole provider, left Zainab feeling powerless. Depending entirely on her husband, she struggled with low confidence and limited say in family decisions. 

A turning point 

In 2024, Zainab was introduced to an opportunity that would change her future. She and Hassan joined the Grow Equal Project implemented by SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia. For Zainab, this was a chance to step into a new role, one where she could build her own skills and reclaim her confidence. Through the project, she participated in capacity building workshops, business training, and sessions on savings, credit access, and gender-based green economy approaches. For the first time, she saw herself as someone who could contribute meaningfully to her family’s income. 

With the training and support offered, and access to financial services through a Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization, Zainab took a bold step. She began selling traditional spices and maize in the local market. Encouraged by her determination and success, Hassan also started a small fruit and vegetable shop. Within months, their combined efforts transformed the family’s income. They began earning 1,000–2,000 ETB per day, allowing them to meet their daily needs without relying on low-paying jobs. 

Rebuilding confidence, restoring harmony 

For Zainab, the real transformation was personal. Earning her own income helped her regain confidence and a sense of independence she had long lost. At home, the negative emotions weighing everyone down shifted as well. The couple began sharing responsibilities and decisions more equitably, rebuilding respect and strengthening their relationship. Even their older children got involved in the family businesses, creating new opportunities to support each other and reconnect as a family. 

Today, Zainab is more than a business owner, she is a symbol of what women can achieve when they have access to the right tools and supportive partnerships. The Grow Equal Project did not change her life for her; it equipped her with the knowledge, confidence, and resources to change it herself. 

About the project  

Zainab’s story illustrates how empowering women and families can uplift entire communities, transforming hardship into hope and opportunity. The Grow Equal Project (2024–2027) in Jimma Town, Oromia, promotes equal rights, opportunities, and access to resources for women and girls, particularly in green economic initiatives and social protection. 

By targeting areas with high child abandonment and social vulnerability, the project directly benefits 1,110 individuals (792 women and 318 men) and indirectly reaches 20,000, fostering inclusive communities where women and girls in all their diversity can thrive socially and economically. 

*To respect the person's privacy, their real name has not been used.