WUBE BELETE – 18 years
Wube knows a thing or two about living with your in-laws. She, at 18, attended school but couldn’t proceed past grade 8. She met and married Gebre Mate, 20, who works as a motorbike driver. They moved into his family home. The young couple have a baby who is over a year old now. Life wasn’t easy because Gebre wasn’t making enough for the family and living under the thumb of in-laws wasn’t any easier on the situation.
When she heard about Smart Start from the Kebele Health Extension worker it seemed like the right project that would change the course of her life, maybe even get her out of her in-law’s shadow. The only problem was her mother-in-law. “She didn’t want me to join,” she said. “She said if I joined there would be nobody to handle the household chores.” Whenever she would sneak some time, Webu would go attend the meetings at the association. The program supports Health Extension Workers to identify, reach, and serve young couples, engaging community actors to create supportive environments for change.
Although she was learning a lot she couldn’t find adequate time to attend the sessions. Frustrated by these challenges, she confronted her husband one day. “We need to move out of your parents’ house if our lives are ever going to change.” She told him. After long discussions, they eventually moved out. “It was tough financially but I didn’t want to give in and I kept saving the little money I was making and after five weeks of saving I took my first loan of 1,000 ETB and started selling vegetables and potatoes.”
In the first month, she made a profit of 500 ETB and repaid the loan with interest. She then took another loan of 1,000 ETB and plowed it back into the business. The gains have been phenomenal. “The training sessions greatly helped me to get where I am now financially.” She says. “I gained different skills and knowledge from the weekly training sessions, I improved greatly on my saving culture, developed my working culture, and joined Income Generating Activities (IGA) for the first time.” She says. “My husband Gebre encourages me to save. Whenever I need extra money, he lends me that money which I always make sure to repay weekly. He has changed greatly after attending some of the sessions, now he supports me in the house by fetching water.” Wube plans to expand her business.
