Women At Risk
She had no money and no one to turn to.
She lost her parents when she was 7 years old, and since then each day was a struggle. At the age of 17, not knowing where to go, she turned to the only option that seemed available: trading sex for money.
She found the experience deeply humiliating. "I refuse to call it a life," she said, recalling her three years as a sex worker in Adwa, Ethiopia. "It was very bad. I have no words to express my bad feelings."
Her life in Ethiopia’s dangerous sex industry began in a hotel. "I was hit and raped by the owners whenever they wanted," she recalled tearfully. "I hardly made any money, because they made me pay for the room I used, and I had to give the owners a percentage, so really, all that was left was money for food."
Because she was not able to save money, and had no other skills or resources at her disposal to make an income, she felt trapped. To make matters worse, given the nature of Ethiopia’s oppressive sex industry and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among the population, she also feared for her life. "I think many people who come to us are sick," she said, implying that many of her clients probably carried the HIV/AIDS virus. After three years, she found a way to escape the life she hated...
'Elillta - Women at Risk'
This story is a real one, and belongs to a real person who subsequently found a new life for herself after taking part in an innovative programme run by the Women At Risk (WAR) project in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).
The premise is simple: commercial sex workers (CSW) more often than not want to escape their way of life. In a 12 month programme combining structured counselling and vocational skills training, WAR has proved to be successful for 94% of the 154 women who’ve been through their doors so far, each of whom have gone on to employment or running their own businesses.
The premise may be simple, but the journey for these women is of course a complex one. An holistic approach is required, incorporating counselling, medical services, skills & business training, and general support. Women are given a small monthly income to cover basic living costs, and dependent children are enabled to attend school and have access to medical services.
The programme works because it gives opportunity to those who really do want to change, and places are heavily over-subscribed. In fact, some women pose as sex workers because they've heard how successful the programme is.
In a city where 60% of adults are unemployed…
WAR provides the means for women to gain meaningful employment and escape the trap of a dangerous lifestyle.
In a country renowned for extreme poverty…
WAR is not providing ‘charity’, but is equipping women with the skills to go from poverty to prosperity through employment.
On a continent where HIV/AIDS is at an epidemic level…
WAR is addressing the needs of a particularly vulnerable group – commercial sex workers – and in so doing is contributing to the reduction of the spread of HIV/AIDS. The project has already replicated itself once, and with the right support should be able to serve other towns and cities in Ethiopia – it could also serve as a model for other nations in Africa.
But the most urgent need is for comprehensive medical services and dedicated HIV/AIDS provision, not just for the women on the current programme, but for all the women who have graduated from the programme, their families, and their communities.
Our part
CRED has had a long-standing relationship with WAR and has acted not only as a donor, but as consultant, advisor and friend. Indeed, the success of Women At Risk is in no small part due to those who’ve donated to Cred through the years. We're committed to supporting WAR as they continue to develop and grow the work that they’re doing.
Cred is looking to attract additional UK funding from individuals, organisations and agencies to support this innovative project: an indigenous, adaptive & transformative model that has proved it’s credentials.
For more information, see the HIV / Aids Training projects and the New Business and Enterprise projects.
