Gulu, Ama, and Dina...Hamar Pioneers

This picture of Dina, Gulu, and I is one of my favorites. These two women faced severe opposition from their husbands in order to learn Amharic and perform simple calculations. In fact, Gulu's husband, Dobe, threatened to kill her several times. I am in awe of the courage and determination of Dina, Gulu, and Ama (widow, mother, and supporter of 8 children) to learn and change the life of Hamar women.

Gulu Bola proudly introduced herself as the chairwomen of the Minogelti women’s cooperative when I first rolled in under the big tree in April 2008. I had been interviewing elders, women, men, government workers, farmers, teachers, etc. for 40 days and eating spaghetti every night! Needless to say, I was exhausted, and quite frankly, discouraged. I really had no idea how I was ever going to craft programs that would make a sustainable difference. Then I met Gulu, Dina and Ama. They are the three women who “opened the door of possibilities for Hamar.”

Because of their pioneering spirit, the Minogelti Women’s Cooperative now operates the 1st ever rural trading center in southwest Ethiopia.

'Bel' Is My Name

One sunny, windy day in Hamarland, Solomon, GTLI’s program manager, Mayat, our Hygiene and Sanitation coordinator, and I accompanied the HIT (Household Inspection Team) on pit latrine usage inspection duty. Bet you wish you were there!

We trudged up a hill, plunged down into a ravine that used to be filled with feces but now, miraculously, is clean, up another hill to our first hut. Thanks to Mayat’s wonderful skill as a coach, the community HIT eagerly took charge of compound inspection – inside the hut, surrounding the hut, and of course, peering into the pit latrine. Lingo Askar, leader of the HIT, particularly relished giving the women of the hut suggestions on how to improve the sanitation of the compound and the hygiene of her family.

Suddenly, each of my arms was securely tucked into the body of two women I barely recognized. Elu and Myza decided to literally “seize their opportunity." They held on tight for the next two hours, even though our trek was up and down ravines, along the sandy river bed, and in and out of huts.

We bonded – more like stuck together! Now, whenever we see each other, we no longer use names in greeting. Instead, we call out “Bel” which tells everyone within hearing distance, that we are such close friends that names are no longer needed. We are simply “Bel.”

Helping Adults Learn . . . to Earn, a New School

The need to earn money to purchase food is the motivation. The courage of pioneer women, Gulu, Ama, and Dina, of the Minogelti Women’s Cooperative, paved the way. And the energy of a German “angel” is making it a reality.

Building a permanent school versus a bamboo shed in Hamarland is a huge undertaking for a small organization like GTLI. We want a structure that will last (not collapse in 10 years because of termites), be cool, and use local materials without raping the environment. Fortunately, Peter Seiler, our German angel, is willing to make it happen. Check out his demonstration video at http://youtu.be/27-iIYGDK7k. Our school will have straight walls, electric lights powered by solar, and a thatched roof. The first of its kind in Hamarland!

The week of preparation in Addis was quite amazing. Peter expected to be in Addis three days, purchasing tools, lumber, etc. for the trip south. As it turned out, Tuesday was a holiday, Eid Al Fetir (the end of Ramadan), and instead of spending three hours at a Home Depot in the US, Bayu, Peter, and his helper, Elias, spent four long days scouring Addis for the necessary supplies, including 6,000 bags for earth and clay. And finally, a 5000 liter Roto (a heavy duty plastic water reservoir) we’ve been wanting for the past year was found, but no lumber for the roof trusses.

Even though it was five hours past designated departure time, at 4pm Friday, Peter and Solomon (GTLI Program Manager) squeezed into the cab of the ISUZU with Elias and the driver bound for Hamarland.

I received a call yesterday afternoon. They found the lumber in Sodo (half the distance to Hamarland). Thank goodness…but since the truck was full, half the load, including our long awaited Roto, was offloaded and stored in Sodo, waiting for an available truck.

The news that makes me most nervous, however, is that on Monday, Bayu and I are expected to purchase the solar panel system so Peter can install it. Gosh, talk about stepping outside my comfort zone. Strange as it may seem, I’m more comfortable living alone in Africa and implementing projects in a remote, hardship area than I am purchasing unfamiliar technology – and I used to run a software company!