Aster, a woman from Ethiopia, once lived in a cycle of struggle and uncertainty. She worked tirelessly — fetching water, washing clothes, and baking injera — to provide for her two children and to make ends meet.
“My life was filled with challenges, and I was hopeless,” Aster said. “The amount I received was not sufficient to support my family.”
Determined to create a better future for her family, Aster joined Convoy of Hope’s Women’s Empowerment program. There, she learned essential business and life skills. “We were trained with business startup training, life skills training, and introduced with how to plan our work and how to conduct a market assessment before trying to sell our products,” she said. “I see the advantage of planning and following the plan.”
Applying these skills, Aster started a business selling spices.
Then, Aster and one of her children fell ill. Medical expenses threatened her newfound financial stability, and she couldn’t manage her business operations in person. But Aster persevered.
“With a fighting spirit and a strong commitment to my dreams, I refused to give up on my business easily.”
Even when Aster couldn’t manage operations physically, she stayed engaged remotely, ensuring her business remained intact.
Now, her business is thriving, and she dreams of expanding to export markets.
“I would like to thank … the people who supported [Convoy of Hope], who made this work of mine possible and to receive and support my child as a beneficiary,” Aster said. “May God bless you more and more, so that you can help more people.”
