Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Partners since 2011

About

Rising on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Entoto Mountain is home to a community of about 2,500 people affected by HIV/AIDS, many of whom were drawn by the healing waters believed to flow there. Though the mountain provides some refuge from the harsh stigma they faced in their hometowns, the members of this community—particularly women—live on less than $1 a day.

When an Ethiopian woman named Betty discovered the conditions these women were living in, it became her life’s mission to help them. She founded Entoto Beth Artisans to provide life-changing employment and empowerment programs to the women of Entoto Mountain. Just as she saw the beauty in these women society had cast aside, Betty also saw potential for beauty in abandoned materials like artillery shells left from former conflicts. Today, these women are transforming their lives by creating unique accessories that tell a beautiful story of redemption

  • Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Nestled in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is one of the oldest countries in the world and has a rich culture and history dating back to ancient times. Ethiopia was the only African nation to maintain its independence during the European colonialism of the 19th-century, a fact about which Ethiopians feel great pride. Coffee, which was discovered in Ethiopia, is the country's largest export and is an important part of Ethiopian culture.

Flourishing World Initiative Grant Recipient

  • In 2019, a $5,000 Flourishing World grant from Noonday supported life-changing social and healthcare programs for our Ethiopian Artisan Partners.
  • While Ethiopia’s universal health care covers basic health needs for the women of Entoto Beth Artisans, these women sometimes experience medical emergencies that require additional attention.
  • To help address this need, Noonday committed $5,000 to provide immediate medical attention in private hospitals, providing assurance that the women will be able to get the care they need.

Artisan Story

  • Emebet
    Emebet discovered she had HIV when her husband passed away from the disease. Unaware of the treatment options available to her, she quietly struggled. But things changed when she joined Entoto’s workshop. There, Emebet rediscovered her worth and received the treatment she needed. She even married a kind man and fulfilled her dream of starting a family. Emebet shared that today, her life’s ambition is “to raise my son in a home full of love and provide him with a good education.”
  • Tigiest
    When she tested positive for HIV, Tigiest moved to Entoto Mountain to escape the stigma of her diagnosis and seek the healing waters believed to flow there. Tragically, she could only afford to bring three of her five children with her. But after finding sustainable work as an Artisan, Tigiest was able to bring her family together again. Thanks to her hard work and resilient spirit, she and her five children were able to reunite in a loving home she once only dreamed of.

In the making…