C.G. Women’s Empowerment (CGWE)
Dureti (Mimi) Tadesse | September 10 | 4:00 - 5:00 PM | Room 2591
C.G. Women’s Empowerment (“CGWE”) is a Christian, non-profit organization. CGWE believes that empowering women to be key agents of change is an essential element to achieving the end of hunger and poverty. CGWE chose “Dabaree” as a model program to follow with some minor changes where appropriate. Dabaree is a traditional Oromo economic system of relation and/or cooperation. The genesis of Dabaree women economic support project is a traditional support system involving transfer of heifers from cattle rich individuals to those without cattle endowment.
During 2013-2014, CGWE provided a cow each to 51 families in Kombo community, donated clothing, shoes, school supplies, Bible and Bible dictionaries, solar phone chargers, and 100 portable solar lights for use in non-electrified rural areas for school children to study, do their homework, and read in the evenings.
CGWE beneficiaries are meeting every month, discussing finance; learning best ways to handle their cows; and conducting bible study in conjunction with the proclaimed CGWE. More than 255 people have benefited within short period of time; and they have seen a BIG change in the family lives already.
CGWE will participate in education designed to highlight rural community’s harmful traditional practices and other forms of violence perpetrated against women and girls like female genital mutilation and forced marriage. The presenter also hopes to initiate a program to train and motivate youth in rural economy by providing High Yielding Variety seeds and instructions on planting local vegetables in neighborhood gardens using a 4-H type model.