Devxchange is grateful for another meaningful chance to connect: Last November, our volunteer team visited the New Hope Project in Ethiopia. Our Team Member, Melody Sargent, shared more about her time visiting a program with our New Hope project.

New Hope, led by Sue Black, provides microloans to people with little or no means of earning a living. The loans are used for starting or growing small businesses. The organization brings together about 20 women to form a Village Savings and Loans Association group, (VSLA), where members are provided with seed money and taught to self-manage their group. Each group takes turns receiving loans to start and later grow their businesses. 

Read on to discover more about Melody and her team’s volunteer journey in Ethiopia.

Melody’s trip began in Bahir Dar, the capital city of the northern region of Ethiopia. There, Melody and her team visited some of the programs of the New Hope project that Devxchange International supports.

Melody was able to interview a variety of people: women that were learning hairdressing and tailor work, Iyal, the man that owns the program and partners with Demelash (the local New Hope implementing partner), as well as the group trainer, Beniun.

She was inspired to learn more about each person’s story, how they came to join the New Hope project, and what their future dreams were.

“One girl that stood out to me was Abagaya. She was graduating from the tailoring course and wanted to be a fashion designer and a model. Without even speaking to her, I knew her passion–she wore a gorgeous fashionable red dress, her hair was perfect, and she stood like a natural model.” –Melody

 

Every person fought adversity towards their journey to a better future. Many had hard working parents that couldn’t afford to support them, some had no family at all.

No matter their story, New Hope is making sure that donations are being allocated towards providing the adequate training and skills to help group members start a small business or get employed.

“The people I met were incredibly talented, many of whom went on to start their own businesses or are employed in the hairdressing industry now. Some of them even work right there in the market. It was an incredible feeling to know that generous Canadians are changing lives with this program and collaborating with hard working locals to make sure it happens.” –Melody

 

Inspired by this story? Learn more about New Hope and ways you can support this sustainable development initiative!