News & Press

In Loving Memory Of Trihas Mezgebe 1953 -2014 EC

ወይዘሪት ትርሃስ መዝገበ በ 1953 ዓም ከእናታቸው ከወ/ሮ ፀጋ ሰበሆ እና ከአባታቸው ከአቶ መዝገበ ገ/መድህን በአስመራ ከተማ ተወለዱ:: ለቤተሰቦቻቸው 5 ልጅ ሲሆኑ ሰባት እህትና አንድ ወንድም ነበራቸው፡፡

በ1979 ዓ.ም በአስመራ የሁለተኛ ደረጃ ትምህርታቸውን ያጠናቀቁ ሲሆን ቤንሻንጉል ጉሙዝ ፓዌ ሳሊኒ ኮንስትራክሽን ውስጥ አስተዳዳሪና ገንዘብ ተቀባይ በመሆን ተቀጠሩ፡፡ እዚያም የማታ ማታ የነፍሳቸውን ጥሪ አገኙ፡፡ የደርግ መንግስት ከተገረሰሰና ሳሊኒ ከአከባቢያቸው ከወጣ በኃላ ከስፍራው እንዲለቁ ቤተሰባቸው ግፊት ቢያደርግባቸውም የጉሙዝ ሴቶች ጉዳይ ያስጨንቃንቃቸውና ያሳስባቸው ስለነበር እዚያው ለመቆየት ወሰኑ፡፡ በ1985 አንዲትን ልጅ በጉዲፈቻ ወስደው አሳደጉ፡፡ ከአንድ ዓመት በኃላም ወደ አዲስ አበባ ለመምጣት ሲወስኑ የህይታቸውን ራዕይ ግልፅ የሚያደርግ አጋጣሚ ተፈጠረ፡፡ በጫካ ወደተከበበችውና በጣት የሚቆጠር ነዋሪ ባለባት ግልገል በለስ በምትባል ትንሽ መንደር ለአንድ ዓመት ያህል በየሳምንቱ በመንደር ውስጥ ካሉ ሴቶች ጋር መቀራረብና መነጋገር ጀመሩ፡፡ በማህበረሰቡ ጋር በነበራቸው ቅርርብ ትምህርት ቤት እንዲከፈትላቸው ጠየቋቸው፡፡ ሁለት ትምህርት ቤቶችን በመክፈትና አስተማሪዎችን በመቅጠር እንዲሁም ለህብረተሰብ ውስጥ ወፍጮ ቤት መክፈት ችለዋል፡፡

ራዕያቸውም አነድም እናት በወሊድ ምክንያት አትሙት በሚል መርህ በቤኒሻንጉል ጉምዝ ጫካ ውስጥ የሚወልዱ ሴቶች ወደ ቤትና ሆስፒታል ውስጥ እንዲወልዱ ሲሆን ይህንንም ለማሳካት ስር የሰደደ ጎጂ ልማዳቸውን ለመቀየር ሳያቋርጡና ሳይደክሙ ሙሉ ህይወታቸውና ጊዜያቸውን መስዋዕት በማድረግ ህይወታቸው እስከሚያልፍበት ሰዓት ድረስ ሲሰሩ ቆይተዋል፡፡ በ1996ዓ.ም ከፌደራል የመንግስት በጎ አድራጎት ድርጅት ፍቃድ በማውጣት ምዠዠጓ ሎካ የሴቶች ልማት ማህበርን በመስራችነትና በዋና ዳይሬክተርነት ሲያገለግሉ ቆይተዋል፡፡ ይህም ድርጅት በቤኒሻንጉል ጉምዝ ክልል በተለያዩ ወረዳዎች ላይ እየሰራ ሲሆን 9 ትምህርት ቤቶችን ከተለያዩ ለጋሽ ድርጅች ባገኙት ድጋፍ ገንብቷል፡፡ ከ 30 በላይ የሴቶች ራስ አገዝ ማህበራትን መስርቷል፤ የሴቶች መጠለያና የመረጃ ቴከኖሎጂ ማዕከልን ገንብተዋል፤ የፊስቱላና የማህፀን መውጣት ችግር የደረሰባቸውን ሴቶችን የህክምና የኢኮኖሚ ድጋፍ ከመርዳትም ባሻገር በሴት ልጅ ላይ የሚደርስ ጎጂ ልማዳዊ ድርጊቶች እና ፆታዊ ጥቃቶችን ለማስቆም ከፍተኛ ስራ ሰጥተዋል ፤ ለሴቶች ኢኮኖሚ እድገትና በመብታቸው ዙሪያ ትምህርት ሰጥተዋል ፤ ሴቶች የመሬት ባለቤት በመሆን እርሻ ማረስ እንዲጀምሩ በማድረግ ብዙዎችን አበልፅገዋል፤ ለብዙ ህፃናት የትምርት ዕድልን ፈጥረዋል፡፡ በክልሉ ሴቶች በጫካ ውስጥ ከመውለድ ተገላግለው ቤታቸውና በጤና ማዕከላት መውለድ ችለዋል፡፡ እድሜ ዘመናቸውን ለሴቶች መብት በመታገል ሴቶች የደረሰባቸውን ችግሮችና ተግዳሮቶች አልፈው ራሳቸውን እንዲያበቁ እንዲያበለፅጉ የሚችሉትን ሁሉ በማድረግ ደከመኝ ሰለቸኝ ሳይሉ ህይወታቸውን መስዋዕት አድርገዋል፡፡

ላበረከቱት ትልቅ አስተዋጽኦ ከAWIB 2007 ዓ.ም፣ የበጎ ሰው ሽለማት 2010 ዓ.ም የእናት ባንክ ቄራ ቅርንጫፍ በስማቸው ተሰይሞላቸዋል እንዲሁም ሌሎችንም ከተለያዩ አካላት ተቀብለዋል፡፡ የኢትዮጵያ ሴቶች ማህበራት ቅንጅት መስራችና አባል ሲሆኑ የተለያዩ ድርጅቶች ቦርድ አባል በመሆን ሲያገለግሉ ቆየተዋል፡፡ ከዚህ በኃላ የነበራቸው ህልም የሴቶችና የህፃናት ሆስፒታል መገንባት ነበር፡፡

Trailblazers Protecting and Advancing Rights of Women and Girls Trhas Mezgebe Documentary

^{2021 MLWDA Annual Report Summary}

Projects and respective partners

1. Benshangul Gumuz women and children Gender Based Sexual Assult and violence and also harmful traditional practices prevention and response and recovery program (UNFPA)

2.Women Leadership and Voice (Plan International Ethiopia)

3.CoVID Pandemic season women and Children Sexual Assualt and violence safe guarding (EWLA-European Union)

4. MOLSA-UDS-UPSNP-DC-WOMEN W/CHILD-ASOSSA

Project Implementation woredas: Mandura, Gilgel Beles City Administration, Dangur, Debate, Pawi, Guba, Sherqole, Assosa City administration and Gangu Wereda

Zone: Metekel, Assosa and Awi Zones

Regions: Benshangule Gumuz and Amhara Region

February 2021 to December 2021

Donor and partner organizations

United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA)
Plan International Ethiopia(PIE)
European Union(EU)
MOLSA-UDS-UPSNP-DC-WOMEN W/CHILD-ASOSSA

Project implementation picture showcase.

Community Conversation through images

MLWDA Safe house compund

MLWDA Chagni Ranch Collaboration, Sleeping bed contributions and Lunch

Service Provisioning Evaluation Meeting Sessions

Gender Based Violence Training Session Members

Regional Level in the presensce of Women Federation Evalution Meetting

Traditional Harmful traditional Practices and Gender based violence based prevention committee members Training sessions

Women and Girls taking family planning an reproduction training sessions

Giving educational materials to Students with economical shortcomings

Gender Based Clubs member training sessions

Village based saving and credit associations training sessions

Adult Women Educational Teaching Sessions

WVL Ethiopia project launching workshop

Gender based violence and Harmful Traditional practices prevention committee Strengthening Sessions

Students and Teachers training sessions

Society members Gender Based violence against during road prades

Parents Students and Teachers during meeting Sessions

Short duration recovery center

Safehouse Center existing clients during trining sessions

Safehouse Center existing clients advice sessions

Trihas Mezgebe Executive of MLWDA has been chosen as part of Ethiopian National Peace Committee member 2011ec/ 2019gc

Trihas Mezgebe Executive of MLWDA has been chosen as part of Ethiopian National Peace Committee member 2011ec/2019gc

ጠ/ሚር ዐቢይ አሕመድ አዲስ ለተቋቋመው የብሔራዊ ዕርቀ ሰላም ኮሚሽን አባላት በተዘጋጀ የመተዋወቂያ መድረክ ላይ አባላቱ ዘላቂ ሀገራዊ ትስስርን ለማሳደግ መስራት እንዳለባቸው ተናግረው ለሌላ ሀገራት ተምሳሌት ሊሆን የሚችል ሥርዓት እንዲፈጥሩ አበረታተዋል። ኮሚሽኑ የተጣለበትን ኃላፊነት ለመወጣት ከሰላም ሚኒስቴር ጋር በቅርበት ይሰራል።

In an orientation session organized for the members of the newly established Reconciliation and Peace Commission, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized to the new members that they are now tasked with nurturing and sustaining national cohesion. He encouraged them to create a system that can be a model for other countries. The commission will be working closely with the Ministry of Peace in delivering on its mandate.

#PMOEthiopia

Link:Ethiopian Peace Commission Committe 2019 at Et-PM office

A High Level advocacy event co-organized by the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs, Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, took place on the Human Rights Day on December 10. The event was held under the theme “Celebrating the Role of Women in Protecting and Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls.” Of which Trihas Mezgebe was recognized among the five women as TrailBlazers #women #children

A Brave Heart Who Inspires

November 23 , 2019 . By Eden Sahle

Helping others might be everybody’s story. But it’s incredible and admirable how far some people go to simply be there for the vulnerable. Some have been willing to be outcast and sacrifice their needs for the sake of others.

This has been the life story for one brave woman, Trhas Mezgebe, who came to Ethiopia over two decades ago to pursue her dream of going abroad to have the life her friends spoke of longingly. When she left her homeland, Eritrea, as a fresh high school graduate, she dreamt of going to Europe to study and build a life there. As she waited for her process in the town of Pawe, Metekel Zone of the Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State while working for an international company, she witnessed a horror that changed her life forever.

She was going on a random drive in the town with her friend when she came across a young woman’s horrifying suicide scene. It was an incident where a young woman who had lost three of her babies consecutively in childbirth ended her life to escape society’s blame. At that time, it was common practice to send women off alone to give birth by themselves in the woods. For Trhas who came from a culture that celebrates and supports women during childbirth, it was a shocking revelation.

Among all the horrific practices and brutality perpetrated against women in this area, perhaps the worst was giving birth unassisted in the bush. Women were isolated during delivery and after delivery until they became clean from childbirth bleeding. They were forced to leave their home during menstruation and remain isolated. The culture believed women’s blood is cursed, thus triggering the segregation. Women were left in pain and most of the time died all alone because of the culture that believed babies who are born inside a house or with assistance would be unhealthy and bring the family bad luck.

Women also suffered from female genital mutilation, untreated fistulas and child marriage. They were forced to carry heavy loads and treated as property as families exchanged them in marriage to several men. They were stripped of their dignity and human rights and humiliated by their own families and husbands who believed that they could do anything they please to women. Women were shamed because of their natural gifts. They were thrown out on the streets when they experienced fistulas due to child marriage and birth complications. They were forced to believe their life was worth nothing, that it was society who gives them value and takes it away.

Although Trhas was not new to violence against women, the abuse of females in Pawe gave her a new purpose in life.

She was determined to fight for the rights of women who were denied human rights and fundamental freedoms. She gave up her dream of life in Europe and stayed with the victims, supporting them from her own limited income. When she lost her job, she shared the cash her brother used to send her for living costs.

Educating the community about women and human rights and being there for these vulnerable women became her new ambition. Being the support to the women who have no other support from family or society became her life goal.

These women stole her entire heart so much that she gave up her desire to get married and have children. She has given up her family who resented her for her passion to support these women by sacrificing it all. She proved that people are not born to just live for themselves. She built an unbreakable bond with the community by staying in a harsh environment that made her happy.

Nothing was easy for her. The community did not welcome her creating women’s awareness about their rights. Assisting women during childbirth made her considered cursed in the community. But it did not stop her. She was convinced that the best way to end violence against women and girls is to prevent it from happening in the first place by solving the cause: the discriminatory mindset toward women.

She eventually became a great influence on the society, who now let women give birth in health centres. Her effort reduced child marriage and female genital mutilation. She built schools and hired teachers to educate men and women. She proved that no one needs a wealth of funding but a heart that is willing to bring a positive change in a society.

It was long after she started her work that the Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations and others discovered her and offered financial support for her initiative. Her organization, Mujejeguwa Loka Women Development Association, officially registered sixteen years ago.

The women of Pawe adore Trhas so much that they name their children after her and pray that she never leaves. She leads a simple and quiet life. She takes pride in the children that were born in health centres because of her influence. These children are now university graduates serving in diverse leadership positions in the regional state. She is the best friend of the mothers whose lives are so much better. She loves her large family in the community and hundreds of people who come from around Ethiopia seeking help in her shelter for abuse survivors.

People like Trhas are like us. What was possible for them is possible for us if we are willing enough to help others. We all have the potential to create a more equitable society.

PUBLISHED ON Nov 23,2019 [ VOL 20 , NO 1021]

Source# https://addisfortune.com/a-brave-heart-who-inspires

PUBLISHED ON Nov 23,2019 [ VOL 20 , NO 1021]

Recognition of Trhas Mezgebe on Techelalech 2012e.c in memory of Bogalech Gebre via Temsalet.

Project Updates

Prevention of Gender based violence against women in Sherkole,Dangur, Debati and Pawi

Pawi Woredas of Metekel/Assosa Zones of BGRS

(January, 1 -June 30, 2021) In partnership with UNFPA

Region: Benishangul Gumuz National Regional State (BGNRS)
Zone:Metekel and Assosa
Woredas: Sherkole, Debati, Dangur Pawi and Mandura

14,610 direct beneficiaries and 164,900 indirect beneficiaries women and adolescent girls who are at risk and survivors of SGBV/HTP/ Sherkole, Debati, Dangur, Mandura and PawiWoredas population
and stakeholders.

Project title: Increasing the roles and capacity of women organizations and local structures to fight against GBV, advocate for the revision and implementation of existing legal frameworks and policies on GBV in Ethiopia

In partnership with NEWA and CSSP2

November 1, 2020 – April 30, 2021

Project High lights that has been under taken during 2020 GC

UEWCA-Farm Africa Women collective participation in the climate actions (UWECA SIDA Farm Africa)
UNFPA Prevention and Action on Gender Based Violence and Cultural harmful practices.
ESAP3 Ethiopian Social Affairs Accountability Program
CSSP2-NEWA Capacity Building of Women Organizations and Different Women associations so that they are active in the community in combating GBV
UN-WOMEN awareness creation in prevention of COVID 19 pandemic
Action Aid Ethiopia: Humanitarian Aid to those that have flitted there neighborhood because of the conflicts in Metekel Zone

Implementation Woreda’s Mandura, Gelgel Beles , Dangura, Dibate, Pawi, Guba and Sheqole

Zone: Metekel and Assosa

Region: Benshagul Gumuz

Donors: UNFPA, UEWCA-FARM AFRICA,Bill and Milida get foundation , BMGF , ESAP3, NEWA-CSSP2, ACTION AID ETHIOPIA and UN_WOMEN.

Increasing the roles and capacity of women organizations and local structures to fight against GBV, advocate for the revision and implementation of existing legal frameworks and policies on GBV in Ethiopia, May 2020

MujejeguwaLoka Women Development Association (MLWDA) in cooperation with Network of Ethiopian Women’s Developmental Associations (NEWA) is implementing the project entitled “Increasing the roles and capacity of women organizations and local structures to fight against GBV, advocate for the revision and implementation of existing legal frameworks and policies on GBV in Ethiopia”. This report encompasses the activities implemented from October-December 2019 and challenges faced under this project. During this reporting period, MLWDA has implemented some of the activities such as launching the project, screening the facilitators, giving TOT training for the facilitators, GBV campaign activities and screening the trainer from project target areas, and also included the dialogue forum and male engagement activities.

Image1.1 TOT training

image 1.2 GBV campaign day

image 1.3: Male Engagement Meeting

“Building Climate Change Resilient Economic Capacity and Environmental Protection: Role of Ethiopian Women in BGRS”

January 01 –December 31, 2019

Implemented at three project kebeles in Mandura Woreda namely Asitsa, Jigda and Dahasbaguna. During this programmatic project period, different activities have been planned, and implemented. 250 community members took part in 5 Community conversations and have benefited from enhanced climate change understanding. As a result more and more people stopped production of coal and shifted to other alternative income generation activities. Forming village saving and loan association (VSLA), and establishing small and micro enterprises, , Piloting, testing and identify best climate smart agricultural technologies (e.g. drought tolerant crops, s-w conservation measures, mulching, planting dates, etc), providing initial seeds of improved drought tolerant and orphaned/high value crops, Upgrading traditional irrigation schemes in Jigeda kebele, in addition value chains were also strengthened. During this reporting period, the main challenges were lack of stable peace and security issue and in the region and Covid-19, delay of financial disbursement which had affected the implementation of project activities in terms of accomplishment and timing.

Activity summary

*Community Conversation (CC)

*Forming VSLA/SME groups and developing byelaws

*Piloting, testing and identify best climate smart agricultural technologies (e.g. drought tolerant crops, s-w conservation measures, mulching, planting dates, etc)

*Developing value chain for 3 key agricultural products per region

*Upgrading traditional irrigation schemes in Jigda keble, Mandura woreda

Strengthen the intervention and the Multi-Stakeholders Engagement in the Addiction to Khat and Its Associates in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State” in Mandura woreda of Benishangul Gumuz Regional State CSSP2, BEGAN and implementer

Mujejeguwa Loka Women Development Association (MLWDA) in cooperation with Benishangul Gumuz Development Association Network (BGDAN) is implementing the project entitled “Strengthen the intervention and the Multi-Stakeholders Engagement in the Addiction to Khat and Its Associates in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State” in Mandura Woreda of Benishangul Gumuz Regional State. This quarterly progress report encompasses the activities implemented from January-March 2020 and challenges faced opportunities tapped under this project. During this reporting period, (January-March 2020) as of MLWDA we have implemented some of the activities such as; conducting steering committee and anti-addiction taskforce joint planning and review, Monitoring visit and progress towards implementation of safe-guarding policy. Under this implementation period, Prevalence of instability in project target area was one of the most hindering challenges.

Activities

Quarterly Steering committee and anti-addiction taskforce joint planning and review sessions.

Fig1. Anti-addiction taskforce and steering committee members during quarterly planning and review session.

2. Conducting taskforce and steering committee joint monitoring visit.

3.Arrange Community Conversations for khat traders, khat planters, religious leaders, elders, and other community figures

Community conversation participants

4.Safe-guarding policy implementation.

Office site postage.

Ethiopian Social Accountability Program phase 2

As of MLWDA we have been implementing Ethiopian Social Accountability Program phase 2 and Bridging phase at Benishangul Gumuz Regional Sate, Metekel Zone, Guba woreda in four kebeles namely; Aysid,Bashata, Almehal and Aswar kebele. Currently we have started implementing Social Accountability program Phase 3 in four kebels which were previously targeted under ESAP2 and bridging phase programs. Under ESAP 3 we have conducted kick-off workshop in Guba woreda, re-organized woreda Social accountability Committee (SAC) and Kebele Social Accountability Committee (KSAC), conducted woreda Social accountability Committee (SAC) and Kebele Social Accountability Committee (KSAC) join meeting and quarterly stakeholders review meeting.

Major activities accomplished

1.ESAP3Kickoff workshop

Fig1, some of Participants during kickoff workshop

2.WSAC support by SAIPs

Fig2. WSACs in the SAC support session

3.WSAC and KSAC joint meeting

woreda Social accountability Committee (SAC) and Kebele Social Accountability Committee (KSAC).

Fig3. Some of participants in the WSAC and Kebele SACs join meeting

4.Quarterly stakeholders review meeting

Fig4. Participants in quarterly stakeholders review meeting

Canadian Government delegation pays visit to UNFPA supported interventions#MLWDA

Delegation interacting with Gumuz women how benefited from the programm

UNFPA supported interventions which are part of the Preventing and Responding to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, including HTPs, and Rehabilitation of Survivors Programme were visited in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region by a delegation of the Canadian Government between 27 and 28 November. The five-year programme which commenced in 2018 is funded by the Government of Canada and is being implemented in selected districts in all Regions in Ethiopia including the Benishangul-Gumuz Region.

The delegation led by Evelyne Dabire, First Secretary of Development Cooperation and Team Lead on Gender Equality and Governance with the Embassy of Canada in Ethiopia, was briefed about the major interventions implemented by the Mujejegua-Loka Women Development Association in four districts in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region. The delegation got the chance to visit the support being provided under the different interventions. It interacted with the participants of the interventions such as survivors of gender-based violence sheltered in a safe house, members of a school-based gender club and an intervention to empower Gumuz women aimed at lessening their heavy workloads exposing them to such complications as uterine prolapse.

The visit to the Hamlin Fistula Centre in the City of Bahir Dar enabled the delegation to see the referral linkage starting from identification of cases to treatment of survivors of uterine prolapse and obstetric fistula who came from the Benishangul-Gumuz Region. The delegation was briefed by a representative of the Fistula Centre on the screening and treatment of the survivors.

The Government of Canada granted UNFPA more than 14 million Canadian Dollars to support the five-year Programme. The programme is supporting comprehensive and integrated services on sexual and gender-based violence and sexual & reproductive health and rights.

#Source https://ethiopia.unfpa.org/en/news/canadian-government-delegation-pays-visit-unfpa-supported-interventions

Structure of MLWDA Safeguard policy 2019

Case Story Medina Mekuriya

Medina Mekuriyawe was born and grew in Angure woreda qota kebele and lived with her family. Because of cultural influence, there is a practice of exchange marriage where she lived and her uncle who wanted to marry exchanged her to an old man who needed to marry a 4^th wife. Without her consent, the old man kidnaped and took her to his house located in kebele Elsanebey. The little girl Medina stayed with the old man for 1 year without any sexual intercourse and she thought that marriage is simple. There is a habit that sexual intercourse is not done with a girl who does not see her first menstruation in the area where Medina and the old man lived.

However, the old man suddenly raped her before she saw her first menstruation at her age of 11. As a result, she was so scared by the pain and she became the victim of Fistula and she decided to suicide. People around there came to know her attempt and reported to the woreda police and the police took her to health office. After medical examination, it was known as she was raped and victim of fistula. Recognizing this, her case was reported to woreda women and children affiars. Because there was no relative of her supporting her, she was brought to MLDWA shelter center.

Since MLWDA is the only non-governmental organization which stands for the vulnerable group of society mainly (women and children) in a given area. MLWDA took a responsibility to take care of Medina. Currently, Medina is receiving a comprehensive shelter service in MLWDA safe house.

Quarterly Update

UNFPA Work Plan Implementation Progress Report for the Third Quarter (July 01 to September 30, 2019)

In order to track the progress of implementation of activities, we have conducted two days monitoring visit in Dibate, Pawi, and Sherkole woreda. However, due to the absence of stable peace and security in Dangur woreda, MLWDA could not conduct monitoring and follow up visit in this reporting quarter. During the monitoring visit, Project coordinator and Safe-house coordinator from MLWDA, office of woreda women and children’s affair, office of woreda education and capacity building office were participants.

The following activities have been the focus of monitoring and evaluation by the team:

Safe house (shelter)
Community conversation (CC)
Fistula and uterine prolapse survivals who are taking BBS (Basic Business Skill training)

In the work plan progress report period, monitoring and evaluation have been conducted 3 times. This means 75 percent (%) of the planned frequencies is performed.

New Entry from July to September 30, 2019

Type of violence
1	Exchange marriage	1
2	Early Marriage	2
3	Rape	1
4	Physical violence	1
	Total	5

April-June 2019

CSSP II and MLWDA

Executive Summary

Mujejeguwa Loka Women Development Association (MLWDA) in cooperation with Benishangul Gumuz Development Association Network (BGDAN) is implementing the project entitled “Strengthen the intervention and the Multi-Stakeholders Engagement in the Addiction to Khat and Its Associates in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State” in Mandura Woreda of Benishangul Gumuz Regional State. This quarterly progress report encompasses the activities implemented from April-June 2019 and challenges faced under this project. During this reporting period, (April-June) as of MLWDA we have implemented some of the activities such as; procurement of school mini-media materials, facilitating training for 50 school and out of school youths and progress towards implementation of safe-guarding policy. Prevalence of insecurity in project target area was one of the most hindering challenges.

#	Procured item	U/ measurement	Quantity	Remarks
1	Table tennis with full accessories	No	1
2	Montarbo	No	1
3	Foot ball	No	4
4	Foot ball training kit	No	12
5	Wireless microphone	No	2
6	Flip-chart	No	4
7	Pen	Packet	4
8	Tissue paper	No	10
9	Notebook	No	2
10	Hand ball Net	No	1
11	Marker	Packet	2
12	UHU	Packet	1
13	Soccer jersey	No	24
14	Double A paper	Carton	2
15	Hand ball	No	4

Safe-guarding policy implementation

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“Building Climate Change Resilient Economic Capacity and Environmental Protection: Role of Ethiopian Women in BGRS”

January 01 –June 30, 2019

Farm Africa and MLWDA

Implementation areas region, zone and wereda

Benishangul – Gumuz, Metekel Zone and Mandura Woreda

Project outcomes

Increased community level understanding about causes of climate change, climate change adaptation and mitigation for 450,000 members;
Increased diversity of livelihoods of vulnerable community members, 75% of which will be women, through increasing production and productivity by promoting climate smart agriculture, agro-forestry, sustainable management and use of natural resources and other climate resilient income generating enterprises development;
Built human and institutional capacity of governments (local and regional) and CSOs to mainstream climate resilient economic development in their programs to benefit vulnerable women in the target areas;

Established monitoring, evaluation, learning (MEL) and knowledge management system for informing policy and future up-scaling;

Executive summary

This report comprises progress report from January 1 to June 30, 2019 implemented at three project kebeles in Mandura Woreda namely Asitsa, Jigda and Dahasbaguna. During this programmatic project period, different activities have been planned, and implemented. 250 community members took part in 24 Community conversations and have benefited from enhanced climate change understanding. As a result more and more people stopped production of coal and shifted to other alternative income generation activities. Solar panel was distributed and enclosure area was done and different SWC activities were done to reduction of greenhouse gases and enhance mitigation and adaptation strategies. Moreover, the following activities have been carried out: Forming village saving and loan association (VSLA) and establishing small and micro enterprises, participatory monitoring & evaluation processes annually and quarterly review meeting with stakeholders at the project site, linking Women headed HHs with weather information providing institutions, Piloting, testing and identify best climate smart agricultural technologies (e.g. drought tolerant crops, s-w conservation measures, mulching, planting dates, etc), providing initial seeds of improved drought tolerant and orphaned/high value crops, Upgrading traditional irrigation schemes in Jigeda kebele, Providing training on small scale irrigation scheme management, Producing and disseminating training materials, Providing material support for institutional building, trainings for facilitators of the platform on climate change adaptation and mitigation, Piloting and Implementing integrated watershed management in project woredas. During this reporting period, the main challenges were lack of stable peace and security issue in the region and delay of financial disbursement which had affected the implementation of project activities in terms of accomplishment and timing.

	Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT)
	Description	Indicator	Baseline	Target	Year to date achievement
Goal	Building the Climate Change Resilient Economic Capacity and Environmental Protection Role of Ethiopian Women
*Outcome 1*	Increased community level understanding about causes of climate change, climate change adaptation and mitigation for 450,000 members	proportion of (No. of ) community able to correctly answer at least 50% of causes of CC		300	300
		Average No. of climate adaptation and mitigation best practices adopted		10	4
		Percentage of households adopting climate smart practices.		90%	20%
*Output 1.1.*	Increased community members, largely (70%) women, trained and made aware in climate adaptation and mitigation across five regional states	number of community members trained on climate change adaptation and mitigation (disaggregated by Gender)		1560	300
*Output 1.2*	Published and distributed behavioral change and communication materials (picture supported prints, audio-visuals, etc.) in local languages	Type of BCC/IEC materials produced and distributed		4
*Output 1.2*		proportion of households who have accessed the BCC/IEC materials		75%
*Outcome 2*	Improved diversity of livelihoods of vulnerable community members, 75% of which will be women, through increasing production and productivity by promoting climate smart agriculture, agro-forestry, sustainable management and use of natural resources and other climate resilient income generating enterprises development	average yield per unit area (per qt/hectare): 30q/ha maize, 30q/ha sorghum, 10q/ha Teff, 10 q/ha Soya bean, 20 q/ha Faba bean		20
*Outcome 2*		Average household income (disaggregated by souce): 10500birr horticutlutre/crop+9500birr livestock+3500birr other sources)		23500
*Output 2.1*	Promoted diverse CSA and agro forestry practices and technologies	Land size(ha) put under CSA and agro-forestry		15	36
		number of farmers using improved DT seeds		60	20
		Number of FTCs demonstrating CSA practices		1
*Output 2.2*	Women headed households supported to have small irrigation scheme.	land size(ha) put under small scale irrigation		8
*Output 2.2*		total number of women household accessed irrigation service		46
*Output 2.3*	Established village Saving and Lending Association (VSLA) and small and micro enterprises (SME)	number of women organized under VSLA and SME scheme		5
		number of women organized under VSLA and SME scheme		5
		Number of VSLA Established		3	5
*Output 2.4*	Increased animal productions through promotion of drought resistant fodder crops; pasture conservation and emergency fodder banks	total size of pasture land (ha) conserved		3
		total size of pasture land (ha) conserved		3
		Number of animals (tropical livestock unit) receiving veterinary services		400
*Output 2.5*	Vulnerable women households have accessed fuel saving stoves and biogas plats	number of fuel efficient stoves distributed		100
*Output 2.5*		number of biogas plants installed or solar panels procured and installed		6	70
*Output 2.6*	Increased integrated watershed management in the target areas	area of land (ha)under integrated watershed management practices		52.5
*Output 2.6*				52.5
*Outcome 3*	Built human and institutional capacity of governments (local and regional) and CSOs to mainstream climate resilient economic development in their programs to benefit vulnerable women in the target areas	government staff knowledge score on CSA, NRM and climate change

		average OCAT score of CSOs implementing the project
*Output 3.1*	Built human and institutional capacity of local and regional government institutions, and CBOs and CSOs	number of local government staffs trained on climate change adaptation and mitigation		10
*Output 3.1*		number of CSO/CBO staffs trained on climate change adaptation and mitigation		5
*Output 3.2*	Improved partnership between local government and community members for joint climate change adaptation efforts	number of climate change platforms established		1	1
*Output 3.2*		number of climate change platforms established		1	1
*Outcome 4*	Established monitoring, evaluation, learning (MEL) and knowledge management system for informing policy and future up-scaling	MEL capacity
*Output 4.1*	Developed MEL system	number M&E plan prepared and used		1	1
*Output 4.1*	Developed MEL system	number of reports produced and deliver on time		2	2
*Output 4.2*	Knowledge management & dissemination system developed & put in place	number of community feedback sessions conducted		12
		number of best practices, researches, lessons and stories prepared and disseminate		1 case stories
				1 best practices

Activities in picture

Image: Community participation on watershed management scheme

Image: Participants in the training session on small scale irrigation scheme

Image: Participants in climate change adaptation and mitigation platform

Image: Participants inclimate change adaptation and mitigation platform

______________________________________________________________________

PROJECT TITLE: STRENGTHEN THE INTERVENTION AND MULTI-STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT IN ADDICTION TO KCHAT AND ITS ASSOCIATES IN BENISHANGUL GUMUZ REGIONAL STATE.

December 17/2018 –March 20/ 2019

Implemented activity number and titles

Arrange Inception, Task Force Revitalization SC Formation Workshops at Mandura Woreda (50 persons).
Organize Taskforces Joint Planning, Reviewing, Learning and Sharing Meetings every 3 months.
Arrange Community Conversations for khat traders, khat planters, religious leaders, elders, and other community figures (50 persons)

Outputs

Strengthen anti-addiction coalition and engagement
Enhance the anti- addiction awareness, Life Skills Education and the Emotional Intelligence Skills of the youths and the awareness of the wider community members.

Participants with disaggregation by sex, age etc.

Total 83 participants (32 Female and 51 Male)

Organize Taskforces Joint Planning, Reviewing, Learning and Sharing Meetings

During the first quarter, MLWDA organized anti-addiction task force joint planning session on the 12^th of March 2019. The plan was to participate all members of taskforce but, due to the governmental commitments some of them couldn’t attend the planning session. A total of 15(1 female 14 male) taskforce members from zonal and woreda level sector offices, police officers, religious leaders and youth representatives were participated. In order to enable taskforce members to understand the current status of kchat and its associates in G/beles town and to measure the achievement an intervention at the end of the project implementation period ; the result of baseline survey was briefly presented by community facilitator from MLWDA. Following the presentation anti-addiction taskforce members planned to conduct activities listed below.

Legalizing anti-addiction taskforce
Issuing ID card for members of ant-addiction taskforces
Organizing awareness creation session at religious institutions every Friday mosque and Sunday at Orthodox Church.
Awareness creation among kchat planters by going their plantation sites.
Door to door awareness creation among “kchat” and “areqee” dealers and kchat chewing and areqee selling houses.
Presenting the reports of anti-addiction taskforce in each sector offices at weekly management committee meetings.
Broadcasting the effects of kchat and its associates through local mini and mass-medias.
Awareness creation among community on legal issues related to drug and crime

Fig1. Launching workshop participants

Fig.2 Members of taskforce in the planning session

Fig3 community members during discussion

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Annual Update

UNFPA Progress for 3rd Quarter (July 01 – September 30, 2018)

Programme Monitoring: Programme monitoring and follow-up
Monitoring is part of the project implementation; during this quarter we have documented the cases of
19 new entries (women and children) in Gilgel-Beles shelter with different violence cases. We have
conducted monitoring and evaluation by MLWDA head office monitoring and evaluation officers and
liaison office. In addition, during the M & E time, a co supervision team composed of 2 females MLWDA
officers and the 2 Woreda officers (1 female and 1 male) in the target woredas visited the safe house to
make sure if services are delivered properly to safe house survivals and the community conversion (CC)
to check if CC is conducted periodically and properly with the presence of the target participants in the
target woredas. Through their observation and discussion with the survivors, the team learned as
necessary services are given properly to the survivors and the CC is also properly implemented in the
target woredas timely and with the presence of the target participants. However, the supervision team
has learned the existence of a problem in electric power supply in the new safe house building and
supervisors from woreda office promised to address the problem by working with the relevant
government office. Moreover, the shelter coordinator has followed up the day to day activities of the
safe house to make sure that all the planned supports are delivered to the survivors timely. In the work
plan progress report period, monitoring and evaluation have been conducted 3 times. This means 75
percent (%) of the planned frequencies is performed. In the following key active services

Safe House Service
Health care service
Education support for the survival
Legal service
Skill Training
Counseling Service
Reunification the survivals
Renovation

List of projects implemented in 2017

HIV/AIDS Prevention and Impact Mitigation in Three Main Towns of Metekel Zone of Benishangul Gumuz Regional State (US EMBASSY)
Enhancing Community-Based Response towards Orphan and Vulnerable Children’s Care and Support in Pawe Woreda of Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State (UEWCA-FHAPCO)
Expansion Of Shelter House For Women Survivors of Voilence in Gilgel-Beles Town, Mandura Woreda of Benishangul- Gumuz Regional State (Japan Embassy)
Build climate change resilient economic capacity and environmental Protection role of Gumuz women/girls through integrated approaches is implemented in Mandura woreda, Kebele D/baguna, Asitsa and Jigda (UEWCA- Farm Africa)
Strengthening the Existing Safe House & establishing new safe House and rehabilitation center in Gilgel Beles and Assosa town of Benishangul Gumuz (UNFPA)
Promoting Environmental Friendly, Transparent and Accountable Gold Mining for Socio-economic benefit of Artisanal Women in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State” (UEWCA-EU)
Social accountability bridging phase (ESAP-2)
Socio-Economic Empowerment of Marginalized Women and Disadvantaged Women Groups in Guba Woredas of BGRS (CoSAP)

Funding Agencies: US Embassy, ESAP2 ,UEWC ,Cosap, Embassy of Japan

Executive Summary

This update presents project activities accomplished and results achieved in the budget year of 2017. In this reporting period, MLWDA implemented seven projects- focusing on improving women and children health status, promoting access to basic social services, empowering marginalized Gumuz women and the prevention and tackling of different forms of gender based violence and harmful traditional practices against Gumuz women and girls. The project donors were UNFPA, UEWCA-SIDA, UN Women, CSSP, US Embassy, UEWCA-Farm Africa, UEWCA-FHAPCO, and ESAP2. In all projects implementation, women and children were the primary beneficiaries and more than 44,158 people (> 85% are women) were direct participants of all the projects implemented in this budget year. These people were addressed in all the project implementation areas including improving community awareness regarding children and women health issues, prevention and eradication of GBV/HTP, promoting socio-economic empowerment of women through SHGs, IGAs and active participation of WAGs and project based committees, provision of non formal education, and treatment of fistula and uterine prolapse patients.

U.S. Embassy (PEPFAR Ethiopia): HIV/AIDS Prevention and Impact Mitigation in Three Main Towns of Metekel Zone of Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State

Major project accomplishments

The main purpose of this project is focused on HIV/AIDS preventing and impact mitigation on the target woredas to:

Increased awareness on HIV/AIDS and related STIs among local community members particularly for Gumuz people by conduction bi monthly dialogue session.
Bring Behavior change among people with high HIV/AIDS risk behaviors such as construction workers, commercial sex workers, out-of-school and in-school youth, teachers, youth club leaders and other adults.
Increased knowledge of safe sex practices and use of condoms among commercial sex workers, waiters and hotel owners who live in the project intervention area.
Created awareness among school community organizing HIV/AIDS prevention clubs and started to raise the school community’s awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention and control.
Increased response from the local government bodies in preventing HIV/AIDS transmission and providing care and support to people living with HIV/AIDS.
Provided quality safe house service to People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) and Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC).
How are the beneficiaries being impacted by your project?
- The practice of un safe sex is changed
- The awareness of the Gumuz community about the virus is changed
- The prevalence will decreased
- New infection will be decreased
- The trained of proper condom storage is improved
- The responsibility of hotels owners on trained the newly appointed waiters and CSW increased
- The attitude the individual to ward VCT improved
- The response of government body about the issue is improved
- Ignorance is being improved and will decrease
- The OVC received and will received quality shelter care service
- Shortage of condom is decreased
- The referral linkage is strengthened
- The attention of stakeholders for the issue is increased
- Improved the knowledge about HIV and AIDS prevention and testing methods.
- Improved the knowledge about gender based violence and harmful traditional practices
- Better attitude towards PLHIV
- Greater access to VCT referral services
- Better communication about HIV and AIDS concerns between stakeholders and the communities.
- The trainee will bring behavioral change after the life skill training
- The school anti-HIV/ADIS clubs will be more functional after they took training.
- The community is more conscious to use condom
- Hotel owners and their staff will be more responsible to prevent HIV/ADIS
- The performance of OVC care in the shelter will be improved
- Increased self-reliance of OVCs

success stories

Eyerus Eshete was born in 1995, she is a 15 years old girl, she was born from Mr Eshete Yitay and Ms Felegush Limenih, her early child hood time spend with family with joy and happiness just like other child, but after some times when she become 9 her life turned in to a new portion she lost both of her parent because of HIV/AIDS and unfortunately she is also the victim of the virus. After the death of her parents she was the only person who live in at home, then her neighbors saw this, she is alone and they send her to her brother who live in Baruda kebele but when she went there she found the situation much worst because her brother wife was not agreed to accept and live with her because she live with the virus, because of this condition her brother got in dilemma because of the conflict between his wife and his sister but by resisting challenges he sent her to school nevertheless his wife told to neighbors that Eyerus lives with the virus as result the students in the school and the community in the village strongly discriminate. Eyerus again left alone in both school and village, even if when some children’s try to play with her their family strongly punish them and they also insult and warn her not to come closer to their child. Finally Eyerus drop out her class and start selling fast foods in the village which is found a little far from her home in order to get money to her medicine and survival because no one is there financially to support her; in addition to this there was no clinic near to the village because of this she went more than 20 km to get and bring the medicine, that is the cause why she start selling fast food.

When the time pass her life becomes more very bad and complex because of she is the victim of HIV/AIDS and struggle a lot to stay in life. One day, the government officials from woreda women, youth and children’s affair office come to Eyerus village for other office duty but unfortunately they heard about her case and they found and talk her about the situation and then Eyerus talk to them about all miserable situation she live finally, the officers came to Mujejeguwa office then our office accepted her case and she start live in the shelter when she come to our shelter she always cry and she fear to close and play with children and she was so depressed but after she get psychosocial support and care, currently, she is in good mood and she also start attending her class and live peace full life, she also taking her medicine regularly.

During testing and counseling

During educational material contribution

UEWCA-FHAPCO: Enhancing Community-Based Response towards Orphan and Vulnerable Children’s Care and Support in Pawe Woreda of Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State

Project General Objective

To contribute to efforts being made in improving the wellbeing of OVC in Benishangul-Gumuz region by the end of the project period.

Project Specific Objective:

To raise community awareness of the issues and needs of OVC;
To enhance the capability of communities for coordinated and improved responsiveness towards OVC care and support;

To provide care and support for vulnerable and poor school boys and girls and OVC admitted in the safe-house

Results from this project:1. As result of the project, the Iddir committee contributes from their monthly saving 15,840.00 birr in the three month period of time to support the OVC.2. Government sectors in Pawe woreda contributed 2% (86,000.00birr) from their monthly salary to provide care and support for OVC.3. As a result of the trainings the Guardians got knowledge and skill about how to give care and support to the OVC and the orphans also continued their education without fear and obstacles.

Lessons Learned

· The trainings were helpful for the committes, the guardians and OVC to bring change on the life of the OVC.

· The community has lots of unobserved resource which is so important for the care and support of OVC.

We have been addressed for 40 OVC children in the given budget; If it’s increased the amount of support we can address many of the OVC in BGRS. However, the amount of budget is too small due to this we couldn’t support as they need.

Case stories“Thanks to MLWDA today I am living a good life without ostracizes myself to the community and I supported my kid without any fear” this is the speech of Manayesh zelalem.Manayesh Zelalem is 35 years old women and living in pawi woreda of Beneshangul Gumuz Regional state. She is a HIV positive and ostracizes herself from the community. Manayesh is a guardian of 4 years old Amanueal Manayesh. Her son is one of our Beneficiaries of OVC and supported by UEWCA-FHAPCO. Her income is “gulit” informal business.MLWDA have given a two days basic business skill training for 10 guardians to support the OVC families. And she was one of who took the training. After the training she received 450 birr to improve her business and then she bought “Mizan”and also she save 30 birr for rent of “Mizan” and she bring a sale items without loan, increased her saving to 50 birr per week. She paid school fee for Amanueal with no worries and she became confident and self-reliant.

Japan Embassy: The Project for the Expansion of the Shelter for Women Survivors of Violence in Gilgel-Beles Town, Mandura Woreda, Metekel Zone, Benishangul Gumuz Regional State

Project Objective

Inauguration of Shelter construction

MLWDA Shelter construction inaugurated on June 28/2017, with the presence of invited guests from regional higher officials, Zonal and Woreda administration, cabinet from the zone and Woreda and representatives from the community. The inauguration started with welcome speech of Ato Gemeda Dugaze the Metekele Zone Administration Delegated Administrator and head of the Metekele Zone Water and Energy Department following congratulation speech of Ms Tirhas Mezgebe; executive director of MLWDA then after followed by un impressive speech with Zonal Women and Children Affair Department head Ms Negera Fufa about MLWDAs past achievements and saved women’s on extremely risk conditions including constructed such kinds of standard shelter for women survivors. During the celebration different cultural music shows were presented by the Gumuz community members and there was also conducted a photo show program. Certificate awards were given for donors, different Zonal department and Woreda offices and MLWDA for their due contribution during the shelter construction. There were testimonial program that a women survivors testifying that she is cured their saviour problem by getting shelter service and she teach the participants the importance of shelter. More than 150 participants from the region to the kebele community representative were admired by the construction and give a high recognition for Japan Embassy for the financial support to build the shelter. During the inauguration ceremony there were more than 150 participants were participated. Finally the inauguration ceremony was clothed by clothing speech of Gilgel Bels City Administration head Mr Meles Kiwi with unimpressive words that they will support the organization on provisions of land especially for the expansion of shelter construction. AS you have seen in the photo, the newly constructed shelter has equipped by all the necessary materials the shelter needs even the organization has installed big solar generator for light and for TV.

UEWCA- Farm Africa: Build climate change resilient economic capacity and environmental Protection role of Gumuz women/girls through integrated approaches

Executive Summary

The project entitled BULID CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENT ECONOMIC AND ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTION ROLE OF GUMUZ WOMEN/GIRLS THROUGH INTEGRAED APPROACH is implemented in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State Mandura Woreda D/baguna, Asitsa and Jigda kebeles. Under this project a total of 150 women are expected to be direct beneficiaries of the project. The project will be in succession for the coming 7 months from (July/2017-January 2017) the funding source of this project is SIDA through Farm Africa and our stakeholders are Environmental Protection office, Agricultural office, Women youth and children and woreda administration.

General Objective of the Project

Creating awareness and building Climate Change Resilient Economic Capacity and Environmental Protection

Specific objective of the project

To enhance awareness of the community members on climate change adaptation and mitigation
To contribute to the development of climate change resilient economy, promote and diversify livelihood systems for vulnerable community and women
Strengthening human and institutional capacity of government and civil society organization.

To develop monitoring & evaluation, knowledge and management system

UNFPA: Strengthening the Existing Safe House & establishing new safe House and rehabilitation center in Gilgel Beles and Assosa town of Benishangul Gumuz

Shelter support the survivors to increased their psychosocial counseling, access to medical care, education for accompanying children in long-term programs, and either vocational training or income-generation opportunities for women.

The overall objectives of shelter include:

Promoting the eradication of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Harmful Traditional Practices (HTP).
Provide care and support to fistula & uterine prolapsed patients by creating linkage with hospitals
Provide emergency delivery service in the safe house.
Proper emotional and therapeutic counseling services to survivors of violence.
Empower economically and create independency for survivors through basic skill trainings.

The staff also expressed tremendous need for support given the emotional impact of managing serious cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Harmful Traditional Practices (HTP), threats from perpetrators.

General objective:

To promote and protect the rights of women and girls, and provide services to survivors of harmful traditional practices and gender-based violence.

Specific Objective:

To prevent the incidence and impact of HTP/GBV by giving shelter service for 156 survivors of violence and 72 children,

To train sewing and design for 100 survivors and stat up capital
To equip Rehabilitation Centre and safe -house (Assosa Zuria & Gilgelbeles) with necessary equipment and furniture
Conduct recreation and retreat for GBV SURVIVORS

To create access to psychological and health service, and protection services (shelter service) for vulnerable groups and survivors of HTP/GBV in BenishanguleGumuz Regional State in one year

The safe house provided a quality service such as;

All the survivors have gotten Food and Accommodation services.
Health care services including medication cloth and sanitation (Sanitary pad, pajamas, under wear, hair oil, soft, and slipper) have given for all safe house survivors.
Medical services- in the three month period of time a total of 62 survivors have got an appropriate medical treatment in Assosa and G/Belles. 19 woman and 18 children have got treatments in Pawi general hospital and Gilgelbelless and Assosa health extension, 5 pregnancy women got medical treatment services and monthly follow up in Pawi general hospital, Gilgelbelles and Assosa health extension, 1 woman has delivered a child in Gilgelbelles health extension, 20 children have taken polio vaccination, 1 girl HIV/AIDS patients got monthly follow up to measuring CD 4, and we have also given first aid by MLWDA nurse for 2 young girls and 2 children. Currently, all of the survivors are healthy and those of who got treatments are taking their medicine in accordance with prescriptions. During the year we have successfully given the first aid service for all survivors in the safe house by safe house nurses and created a referral linkage for 72 survivors.
Infant care (nutrition food, milk, diaper and cloth) and other related services. Through the year 27 infants have gotten child care service by safe house nanny.
Support the survivors to continue their education: –we have supported 12 girls to continue their education who had been a dropout from the school. By provided reference book, exercise book, uniform, pen, pencil and different educational materials. The main cause for their dropout was sexual violence. As result, throughout the year we have successfully supported 30 students to continue their education.
Emergency transportation to and from shelters
Legal aid service-MLWDA legal officer followup the legal cases of 8 safe house survivors (6 women and 2 children). During the reporting year we have successfully given a legal aid service for 30 safe house survivors and the 22 of the legal cases are closed and 8 survivors’ legal cases are still on the process.
Counseling and life skill training- we have given safe and non-stigmatizing multi-sectorial GBV response counselling services and life skill training for survivors of the shelter. The counselling service helps out the survivors to relief from past traumatic disorders, to regain their self- confidence, develop self- awareness and self-esteem. The life skill training provided by MLWDA, in addition, supported the shelter survivors to lead a healthy life, to have bright future and to be self-reliant in their near future right after they left the shelter. For instance, during the year we have given a counselling service for 142 survivors in Assosa and G/Belles safe house.
Basic Business Skill Training- we have given food preparation and sewing machine training for 30 survivors of women. The trainees got enough skill and about how to prepare food and sewing dress. The skills they got during their shelter stay helped them to generate income and live independent life when they leave the shelter service. Besides, the training capacitated their self-confidence about their future and initiated their moral to lead a successful life in their upcoming life. As a result, throughout the year we have given sewing and food preparation training for 50 survivors.

Also, we have purchased different products and materials for the safe house purpose such as;

Sanitation materials (Sanitary pad, pyjamas, underwear, hair oil and soft)
Books (storybooks, doll and colouring books)
Sewing machines and embroidery materials
Food items and materials for food preparation
Food item for shelter survivors
Bed sheet and mattress,
Nutrition food
Children game zone
Purchased and equipped Traditional kitchen (kitchen house and materials) for assisting the food preparation training in Gilgel Beles shelter.