Not long ago, Asnakech's life looked very different. 

She had no income of her own. And there was rarely enough to meet even their family's basic needs. Food, clothing, soap -- everything was a struggle. Providing school supplies for her daughters felt impossible. The household faced constant shortages. 

When it came time for school, Asnakech watched her daughters head off without the supplies they needed, and it broke her heart. She feared here sweet girls would have to leave school and work to help the family survive.  Every day she thought about how to keep them in school. But she didn't know how to make that happen when she had nothing of her own. 

Life was deeply isolating. Before joining the SHE group, Asnakech had no close friends, no support network of her own. She faced each day's challenges alone, without anyone to turn to for encouragement or advice. During the most difficult times, she would walk long distances to ask relatives for help. Each time, she felt more powerless, more dependent, more discouraged. 

The weight of relying on others, never knowing if help would come, took its toll. She felt trapped in a cycle she couldn't break. But Asnakech had something powerful inside her: determination. She wanted her children to have chances she never had. She just needed an opportunity to show what she was capable of.

Today, Asnakech's daily life includes doing daily chores like washing her family's clothes, selling her butter at the market, and supporting her 3 sweet daughters.

Everything Changed 

Life changed when Asnakech joined the Roots Ethiopia Self Help Entrepreneur (SHE) program. With training, startup support, and the encouragement of other women in her group, she started making and selling butter. At first, it was just a small amount, enough to test the market, to build her confidence, to learn how to save and grow her business. 

Asnakech is a woman with vision and determination. She learned as much as she could, following her business plan. She met weekly with her SHE group. She built relationships with customers at the local market. She grew her sales steadily, week by week, month by month. Today her butter business is popular in her village. And she walks to other nearby markets to increase her sales.  

She's earning steady income -- income that's hers. 

Asnakech can buy food, clothing, and school supplies without asking anyone for help. Today, she provides for her family. 

Asnakech found her voice. In the SHE group, she discovered friendship with other women who understood her struggles, celebrated her victories, and believed in her potential. She's no longer isolated. She has a community with women in SHE who walk this journey with her. She discovered she's capable of so much more than she ever imagined. 

The woman who once walked long distances to ask for help now walks to the market with confidence, knowing she has something valuable to offer. She's a businesswoman. An entrepreneur. A provider for her family. 

Your support made this possible. When you give to Roots Ethiopia, you're telling mothers like Asnakech: "I believe in you. I believe in your ideas. I'm with you." And that belief, combined with practical training and startup support, creates real, lasting change.

Asnakech accepts payment for one of her beautiful packages of butter.