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In rural Ethiopia, women carry the greatest burdens of poverty. Supporting women with stable income opportunities results in thriving families and communities.
In 2011, Debo helped establish eleven self-managed, community based, women’s savings groups in which individuals meet regularly to save and borrow funds from one another to start and expand their individual small businesses. |
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Microfinance is one of the most powerful and sustainable ways to create economic and social good by enabling individuals to create opportunities for themselves and others. The ripple effect from being successful in a small business can shape the future for a family or an entire community. Debo provides loans for families, youth groups and community associations.
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In the past fifty years, advanced deforestation and land degradation have caused severe soil
erosion in Ethiopia. Forests which were above 40% of the country’s land mass in the beginning of the 20th century have been reduced to just 2.36% today. Debo has partnered with a local farmers association to distribute more than one million tree seedlings. Our goal is to assist villagers to improve their standard of living, promote self-sufficiency and protect their environment. |
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Ethiopia is still one of the poorest countries in the world with annual per capita income of just
$660. Today 33.5% of the population lives below poverty level. Only 10% of women receive assistance from skilled birth attendants and there are nearly 1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS. Debo conducts annual HIV prevention seminars for students and funds training for village midwives. |
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Safe drinking water is key to sustaining health and wellbeing. Additionally, access to clean, safe drinking water affects the lives of women and girls who are responsible for water collection, a chore that restricts their involvement in productive activities.
Debo developed a natural water spring in a remote village to provide 1200 people with a clean water source. |