Ethiopia – Hostel for disadvantaged girls

 Ethiopia – Hostel for disadvantaged girls . As part of our agricultural progression we now  have improved the ground and made the water distribution more efficient we are grateful for the  support for a small business outlet/ kiosks  adjacent to the girls’ hostel to allow us the opportunities of selling our produce and possibly renting the outlets during quiet parts of the year. This will add to the sustainability and self dependence of the hostel contributing also to being able to afford more educational supplies and will be used to teach our students about marketing and economy, profit/ loss etc.
We consulted with the beneficiaries before, during, and after the production process. UDA and AHEAD committee members participated in the general needs assessment discussions, while the more hygiene pad-specific consultations were facilitated by female stakeholders.

 Feedback from the pilot phase indicated that the girls were very happy to use the reusable pads. They embraced the rationale behind sustainability and affordability of the new hygiene pads. However, the main challenge and a significant barrier to the continued use of these eco-friendly hygiene pads is the lack of sufficient water for washing and reuse. There has been no running water for the last five months. 

 Before progressing to the next phase of the hygiene pad initiative, we must address the water issue. This year, raising funds to ensure water security at our hostel in Shakiso will be one of our top priorities.

On a related note, our hostel was previously in a poor state of repair. We’re pleased to report that most of the key repair work has now been completed. That said, further repairs are still needed, such as mending doors and installing window panes. The fencing is also aging quickly and will need serious repairs soon.