

Video credit:
Mary Olive Smith
Director & Cinematographer
Emmy Award-winning Director for Walk to Beautiful
Community Voices

Now, more than ever, women are speaking up for other women, encouraging them to seek treatment.
Ultrasounds at local health centers provide essential medical services and instill a sense of reassurance and care among pregnant women like Mehiret.
Maternity waiting rooms provide a safe place for mothers to rest, eat, and receive medical care from trained midwives.
Health extension workers, or HEWs, are frontline healthcare workers of Ethiopia, providing primary health care services at the community level.
The women of the Sera Meserat group shared their personal stories with us, highlighting the group's impact on their personal and community well-being.
Farmers from the village of Gaecha shared their thoughts on the impact of the agricultural program on their farming practices and their family’s overall well-being.
Women’s Self-Help Groups empower their members to create better futures for themselves, their families, and the community.
Hiwot’s parents were encouraged to hear about the educational, emotional, and social support available to their daughter and agreed to send her to school immediately.
“…For me, it was unthinkable that I would have a chance to live again. But my God sent WEEMA workers to me. I see them as angels who came to me with good news.”
Recently, our staff visited Hambo Primary School, and upon arrival, were warmly greeted in sign language by students and teachers.
The ripple effect of women’s self-help groups is transformative to women, their families, and the larger community.
In 2024, 545 pregnant women and 17 husbands attended the conferences to learn about issues impacting their health and wellbeing.
Afterschool tutoring, including sign language training and homework support, is essential for students with disabilities who started school at a later age; helping to decrease their education gap.
Investing in quality school libraries is essential- they provide a quiet and safe space for students to access books and educational resources, and give them the space to collaborate and explore their interests with their peers.
The Degale Library is busy on most school days, full of students studying and using the resource materials. Last year (2023), over 20,000 people visited the library!
We partnered with the Himalayan Cataract Project for our yearly high-volume vision screening campaign. Screenings were held eight at local schools, reaching over 5,000 students in Central Ethiopia.
Demekech, along with 39 other women, participated in extensive pottery training. Since then, she’s worked hard to improve her handmade products.
There is a lot of support and skills surrounding Tsedeke, his family, and other children with disabilities.
Lack of access to clean water impacts every aspect of a woman's life. But Kedija’s life changed for the better when a water station was built near her home.
A group of eight women from the village of Farsuma mobilized their community to build a kindergarten for their youngest children. The nearest school for these youngsters was much too far away for them to walk safely.
We are committed to addressing gender equality across all our program areas by focusing on improving the lives of girls, women, and the most vulnerable in our communities.
Recently, our staff visited Asrat, his wife Dinknesh, and their four young children in the beautiful village of Osheto. Asrat and Dinknesh participate in multiple projects, including our farmers' support project, adults with disabilities project, and women's self-help group.
We recently met Mesert, a 22-year-old student with a physical disability, at Mudula Primary School.
Uterine prolapse is a significant public health concern, affecting women's overall health and well-being in the communities we serve.
Tadewos is an unconventional student at Gaecha Primary School- he couldn’t attend school as a young boy because he had significant vision problems, but he never gave up.
Women's Self-Help Groups have genuinely made a positive impact on the lives of many women in the communities we serve.