In Ethiopia, roughly 80% of the population lives outside of major cities, in rural communities. While the women of these communities are largely responsible for the vast majority of the agricultural labor, they are consistently denied access to more resources than the men of their communities. As young girls enter school and grow up, more and more of them have to stop receiving education so they can help provide labor and generate income for their families. This type of system perpetuates the issues that face women and communities in Ethiopia and around the world.
After my first visit to Ethiopia many years ago, I decided to help be part of the solution. While I have primarily focused my work in many places around the world, I have continued to support the work of women’s empowerment and gender equality in Ethiopia through organizations like Convoy of Hope and USAID. I will share more about this work and my involvement in subsequent articles, but for now will share some facts and figures about the issues that continue to loom over women in Ethiopian communities:
– Early leave from the education system, primarily from young girls.
– A labor system powered by the work of women, but benefitting more men than women
– Limited access to credit and financial support to start businesses
– Child marriages and pregnancy
We can all do something to help support communities and people all around the world. As individuals, we do not have to have the answers or provide the solutions but, by working together, we can work to make it a better, more equal place for all of us. As I share more about these issues, I’d encourage you to consider how you might be able to do your part to help.
~Nadia Cavner
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