A Positive Example and Role Model to the Elderly
Emahoy Alem
Hawaz is a member of ‘Mulu Tesfa’ Saving and Credit Cooperative in ‘Akaki-Kaliti’
Sub-City in Addis Ababa. She serves as a member of the reconciliation/mediation
committee and sells such items as embroidered church umbrellas, wax candles and
incense. Emahoy recalls her previous life as follows. “After I married and had
children, I left all my belongings behind due to a misunderstanding with the
wife of my husband’s brother. I entered a nunnery so that my family would be
unable to find me. On being alarmed by my leaving, my family stepped up their
efforts to locate me but were unsuccessful. I went from one nunnery to another,
trying to live my life. However, on being informed of my possible whereabouts,
my son who now lives with me eventually found me at Ziquala Nunnery.
I was very happy to see him after
such a long time. Therefore, with my son’s future in mind, I gave up my life as
a nun and returned to Addis with him. At the time we lived off with little
income my son obtained from his shoe shining work. However, the ever increasing
house rent made our existence very difficult. I used to ask myself what
business activities I should engage in and where I was going to find some money
and a place to undertake these activities.
As I was planning
to start work, I heard that an organization called WISE was promoting its aims and
activities. This took place in 2000. Prior to undergoing training by the
organization, I tried to save some money which my son gave me.
Before long, I undertook a 5-day
training course at WISE, in developing basic skills in business activities. I
learnt what types of activities I should be involved in, and how to become
successful in these undertakings. I also obtained useful information on time
management and on how to retain customers. I took out a first loan of 700 birr,
bought some barley and began making ‘Kolo’ (a type of peanut) at home. My son
went around in his spare time selling the Kolo. After paying back the loan, I
took out a further loan to buy candles and incense and began selling these at
church gates. As my son was going to school at the time, his Kolo-selling
activity seemed a little too much for him, and since I did not want this to get
in the way of his education, I stopped making Kolo and concentrated on my
church related business activities on my own. During holidays, I sold butter obtained
from the countryside. The profit I made from this contributed to an increase in
my income, and easily helped pay my house rent which had previously been a
problem for me. I also managed to purchase some important items I needed. I
currently have savings of 22,000 birr in my
Saving and Credit Cooperative and
have nearly returned the total amount of 15,000 birr loan. I had previously
taken out for my activities. People in my community encourage me, which helps
me to do much better. Recognizing my efforts, the ‘Woreda’ personnel helped me
to obtain on lease, a piece of land on which to build a house. I have requested
a modest sum of money from the WISE-SACCO -Union for this purpose.
I participate in various programs in
my Kebele, sharing my experiences with the youth, among others. I have also
become an example and role model to other elderly persons. Due to my responsibilities
in my saving and credit cooperative,
I try to mediate between members and
reconcile differences through dialogue. We members also visit each other during
times of stress, sorrow and happiness, which contribute to strengthening our relationships,
something that should be encouraged in all cooperative”.
Women
in Self Employment (WISE) is one of the four partner institutes of the
African Centers of Excellence (ACE) for Women's Leadership Program run
by the Institute of Intenrational Education (IIE), Ethiopia Office
For more on IIE , ACE or WISE please follow the links below.
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