Meet Ms. Yeshi Belete, a resilient 37-year-old mother of two girls living in Goncha Siso Enesie woreda, Enesikole Kebele. Yeshi, a divorced woman, was making ends meet by selling tea and local alcohol, along with some occasional labor work.
She didn’t initially see herself as an entrepreneur, but this changed when she joined the training program to become a Nutrition Sales Agent (NSA), initiated by the Healthy Village Program. She learned the skill of preparing Mitin flour, a nutrient-rich blend primarily meant for children under two and pregnant or lactating women. Alongside this, she received essential business training and a toolkit, including various cereals and pulses, a plastic sealer, a weight scale, plastic bags, a registration book, and valuable technical support.
Yeshi shares her journey, saying, “My motivation ignited during the nutrition marketing training. I was drawn to the intervention’s goal of reducing child stunting and providing valuable services to our community. Moreover, the project provided me with startup capital, which was the boost I needed.”
The program facilitated vital linkages, where the local Health Extension Workers (HEWs) played a pivotal role in promoting the product at health posts, cooking demonstration events, and other community gatherings. During these events, the HEWs showcased how to prepare the Mitin flour by adding eggs, vegetables, and oil, making it a nutrient-dense meal for mothers to feed their children.
Since embarking on her entrepreneurial journey, Yeshi has witnessed a significant shift in her community. Awareness about the importance of nutrition and related products has soared, leading to a remarkable increase in Mitin sales. In just eight months, she sold 254.5 kg of Mitin to 277 households, generating a profit of more than 5000 ETB. This empowered her to establish “Equib,” a savings program within her local community, further fuelling her dreams and those of her two daughters.
Yeshi’s story is a testament to the Healthy Village Program’s commitment to identifying and empowering women in the community, in collaboration with the woreda health office and HEWs. Together, they are rewriting the narrative, improving children’s nutrition outcomes through social entrepreneurship.