If you happen to be visiting the resort town of Wondo Genet, Ethiopia, you can get all the caffeine you need from Meseret’s coffee shop.
She and her husband work together running their own business and providing for their two children, sending them to school and keeping them well-fed. But their lives were not always this full of hope.
Meseret’s husband used to be their family’s sole provider. He worked long days away from home doing manual labor, but the income was not enough for a stable life. Meseret had no opportunities to help bring in additional income. On difficult days, it was hard for the couple to think past the next moment.
“I lacked a vision for my own future,” Meseret remembered. “It’s challenging to convey the struggles of my former life.”
Convoy of Hope’s Women’s Empowerment program helped Meseret rebuild her hope and self-confidence — and it gave her family the tools they needed to create a strategic plan for their future. As they studied practical business principles, she and her husband decided their new career would be selling coffee together.
“I received training in business startups and life skills, which introduced me to how to plan my work and conduct a market assessment before selling products,” Meseret said. “To be honest, before this training, I didn’t have any experience in these areas. I have identified my goals and target customers. As a result, my business is growing.”
Eventually, Meseret and her husband hope to expand their business into exporting their coffee. But for today, they have found the freedom to dream beyond the present, using their new skills to build a stable, successful future.
“Your support has brought me from the bottom of poverty to starting a wonderful life,” said Meseret. “May God bless you abundantly so that you can continue to help more people.”
