In a city where unemployment is at 60% (and where people are living as if you or I
were living on £1 or $2 per day) IHA-UDP facilitate community-owned employment
schemes, e.g. basket-weaving, clothing and fabrics etc. These employment schemes are literally a
life-line.
We saw what the situation was for local jewellers, who
were literally unable to earn a living if they wanted to ply their trade. The only way it could work was if they had a
sizable amount of metal to borrow from. Instead they were forced to borrow money to buy metal, and by the time
repayment occurred they made an absolute pittance. What’s more, they were forced to work from
home in unsafe and less-than-ideal conditions.
IHA-UDP is superb at forming community agreement and
forging working co-operatives, and they had a spare building free, so we
decided to partner with them in facilitating a self-determining ‘Jewellers
Cooperative’. We have invested an amount
of money in kitting out the new workshop and providing funds for a stock of
metals. IHA-UDP will manage the whole
process and facilitate implementation.
This will be a 5-year investment in developing
resources, training & skills, and the focus will primarily be on the local
market (which the jewellers know very well). At some stage it may end up being beneficial to Cred Jewellery, but in
the meantime we’re pleased that at least 15 families are now simply able to
earn a decent living.
If you would like to donate
to this opportunity for business growth in the slums of Addis Ababa, please
donate here.
