MWVocational training

New Livelihood Project
with the Mulu Wongel (Full Gospel) Church,
Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Located on the shores of Lake Tana - headwaters of the Blue Nile - Bahir Dar boasts of its booming tourism industry, its four universities and its bustling trade. All are factors in it having the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. The town's 10,000 sex workers also contribute to the high rate and are themselves increasingly vulnerable to infection. Lack of opportunity for these young girls, combined with the fact that only 15% of high school graduates in Ethiopia are accepted into universities result in a huge population of unskilled and unemployed youth.

Start up funds and partnership

The initial funds for this project come from the Cosmetology Training initiative. When huge delays were projected in the construction of a Vocational Training Institute ( which would include a Cosmetology School) DevXchange volunteers in Bahir Dar, began to research alternative national partners to implementing a vocational training program in hairdressing. Priority was given to local organizations that wanted to address the escalating HIV/AIDS problem in Bahir Dar and find alternative career paths for survival sex-workers.

The Mulu Wongel Church now continues to strongly support the NEW LIVELIHOOD PROJECT 2011 and further into 2012.
The project provides funds for tuition, food and shelter. (Away from the brothel environment)
As well as a family support program. Church families mentor and serve as a " second family"
for the girls.

This year we have added a course, after some research by our Project Facilitator we added a course for young girls to learn to manufacture MOPS and BROOMS.
This is a cost effective course.

The 3rd group of young women are now, Oct. 13 2011, completing their training in "POULTRY PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT TRAINING"
The New Livelihood Project will continue next year and the Lead Member continues to raise funds to help.

How it works:
Your Part: $35 a month for one year provides vocational training for an at-risk girl who would otherwise be pressured to enter the sex-trade.

Our Part: We provide guidance to and accountability on behalf of the Mulu Wongel Church to ensure high-quality implementation of the project.

Mulu Wongel Church: They select the girls to enter the program, facilitate the training and mentoring and ensure their general well-being during the program. Upon completion of the training they also assist the girls in finding secure employment.

Together with your support of only
$35/month for one year,
we can change the course of a life for good.

MUSHROOM PROJECT- In addition to the various vocational training programs offered to women at risk, the Muluwongel is starting a new initiative this year with forming a co-op to grow mushrooms. This has the potential to be an amazing new intiative that provides not only nutritonal and medicinal benefits but income for the poor.