Celebrating the other half

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - As the saying goes, if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. In recognition of the International Women’s Day celebrated on March 8th and  to recognize successful women in Ethiopia, Capital has made a list of their inspiring stories. Here is to the grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, nieces and all women.

Meseret Azage

She is founder of Meseret Humanitarian Organization. She has experienced over 21 years of working in humanitarian organizations such as the Ethiopian Red Cross Society.

What was your first job?
I have always been working in the humanitarian sector. For a long time I worked with the Ethiopian Red Cross.

What is your most significant accomplishment?
What I consider my significant accomplishment is what I am doing now. And that is helping vulnerable women and children change their lives. The people I help are those who have gone through many challenges and are in very difficult situations. I am working to help them change their lives so that they can become productive citizens.

What is your perception of women being celebrated on March 8?
March 8th is one of my favorite days to celebrate. Women should be celebrated; women are a family, a society and a country. Women have the ability to transform things for the better, and March 8 shows all the changes that are brought about by women.

What do you think is the most burning social issue in our communities and what is the solution?
I believe that one of the most concerning issues we have today is economic empowerment for people, especially women. Women come from all over the country to Addis Ababa in search of a better life but what awaits for them here is prostitution. With this line of work comes abuse and addiction. This is visible especially in the Kirkos sub city in Addis Ababa. These people need empowerment and help. Everybody should join in to help them.

What is your future plan?
What I plan to do through the Meseret Humanitarian Organization is to help people achieve economic independence without them leaving the area they live in. Now everybody leaves, go to other countries especially to Arab countries to be able to make money and support their families. But I want to help them achieve that with in their own country.

Read more at: Capital Ethiopia