The Esther Project

Our Esther project debuted on April 25th, 2021. Our first 4 young women had their first training session and were excited to learn more about getting jobs, writing resumes and interviewing.  We continued adding 2 additional students from Addis. In early 2024, we added a project with 6 students in Dessie.  We are hoping to increase our reach to 200 direct participants. in the next 2 years.  

This program provides far more than employment skills- our female participants receive life skills training, supports them financially in receiving a university or college education, provides mentorship, teaches self advocacy skills, family planning, as well as help develop strong women able to determine their own destinies. 

In 2021 we focused our attention on teaching groups of young women the skills of entrepreneurship, self-confidence, sexual assault prevention and the skills necessary to  obtain and maintain careers. 

The mission of the Esther project is to support female students that are preparing for college, are disadvantaged, and yet have high academic standing. The goal of Esther is to empower these young women to self direct their lives so that they are prepared to make the best decisions possible for their personal lives as well as their lives in community.

How does a woman apply for a job in the Ethiopian cultural setting and obtain a living wage? How does one write and build a resume?  How does a young woman interview for her first job or have the agency to ask for a promotion?  How does one balance family and work?  What about our  female bodies- how do we, as women, understand our bodies and take care of this valuable asset?  How do we maintain proper nutrition, choose and use birth control, and maintain effective hygiene on a shoe-string budget?  These, and so many other topics will be examined in our new program, launching in 2021. 

Direct beneficiaries: Young women graduating high school and headed to college. Young women in their college years.
Indirect beneficiaries: By helping women empower themselves, we can help entire nations!