From Limited Roles to New Opportunities

“All we knew was helping our husbands on the farm and caring for our children.”

These words from Aberash, a mother of four from Amaro district in southern Ethiopia, reflect the reality many women in her community still face. Traditionally, women’s roles are limited to domestic responsibilities, caring for the home, raising children, and assisting their husbands on the farm. Decisions about income, savings, or investments were left entirely to men.

That began to change when World Vision’s Amaro Area Program (AP) introduced the Saving for Transformation (S4T) and Building Secure Livelihood (BSL) models under the Integrated Livelihood and Nutrition Security Programme. These initiatives aimed to reduce food and nutrition insecurity while empowering women with the tools and confidence to participate in household and community decision-making.

Small Steps, Big Progress

In 2021, Aberash joined a savings group composed of 15 members from her village. Through the programme, she received a series of trainings on financial literacy, business management, saving and lending principles, as well as nutrition-sensitive agricultural practices.

“Before joining the group, I didn’t believe I could run a business or manage money,” Aberash recalls. “But the training opened my eyes. I learned how to save regularly, plan my expenses, and use credit wisely. Now, I see myself as capable and confident.”

With her first share-out of 2,100 Ethiopian birr, Aberash bought a goat, her first personal investment. The goat multiplied, helping her generate income to cover her children’s school supplies and household needs. Encouraged by this success, she reinvested subsequent share-outs to buy and fatten oxen, later selling them to purchase a milk cow.

“The day I brought home a cow was unforgettable,” she says. “It was more than livestock; it was a symbol of independence. I can now make decisions that benefit my family. My children eat better, go to school, and we even sell milk to earn extra income.”

A Future Filled With Possibility

Through the trainings delivered through the Saving for Transformation (S4T) and Building Secure Livelihoods (BSL)models, Aberash not only gained practical skills but also the confidence to dream bigger.

“I want to buy land in town and build a rental house,” she says with determination. “I believe I can make it happen. It makes me happy to finally contribute to my family’s income.”

Today, Aberash’s story stands as proof that real empowerment goes beyond income; it transforms mindsets, restores dignity, and creates lasting change. She is one of more than 150,000 women who joined savings groups, gaining financial literacy and sustainable livelihoods, but there is still more that can be done to reach even more women. With access to training, financial tools, and support, mothers like Aberash are redefining their roles in society and shaping a stronger, more equitable future for their children, families and communities.

By Tigist Taye, Corporate Storytelling Coordinator, World Vision Ethiopia