When entering Simegn Hailu’s family compound one must duck under clotheslines hung with brightly colored children’s clothes drying in the early morning sun. Inside, a small, well-stocked shop fronts the street, filled with snacks and orange drinks. 

In a cozy, green-walled room next to the shop, Simegn Hailu, 37, sits in a vibrant blue dress next to her husband, Tadesse, as he gently cradles their sleeping daughter. She leads a group of 20 women in a self-help group that provides a system for saving money and loans for small businesses. Thanks to her participation in the self-help group, Simegn can cover the needs of the family even though Tadesse was unable to work for two years. “I needed to work to support the family, so the kids would not lack anything.” The clotheslines crisscrossing the courtyard just outside her door show some of her success. “Now when the kids need clothes, I can buy them,” she says.

Tadesse Belay, 39, is married to Simegn Hailu. He is a truck driver, recently going back to work following a back injury that kept him at home for two years. Phto credit: Petterik wiggers/ Oxfam

Simegn’s journey began when she first joined a self-help group, saving five or ten birr each week (less than 1 USD). “I saved up enough to invest in a mini shop,” she says. Today, the shop, along with her sales of Ethiopian traditional beer (tela), provides a steady, if modest, income for the family. When the COVID pandemic struck, and later conflict broke out, Simegn’s group continued meeting. “During the pandemic, during the conflict, we kept meeting,” she recalls. Through Women Empowerment Action (WE Action), Simegn secured a loan of 40,000 birr (716.64USD), which she used to stock her shop and turn a profit.

Life before the group was different. “I stayed at home, and I relied on my husband for money,” Simegn explains. Her husband, Tadesse Belay, is a truck driver, but after sustaining a back injury, he was unable to work for two years. During this period, Simegn took over not only the household chores but also managing their finances. “When my husband was injured, I did all the housework, ran the shop, and brewed tela,” she says. Yet, before his injury, Tadesse was already deeply involved in supporting his wife.

Simegn Hailu is a leader of a self-help group in Sekota. She says that being a member of the self-help group has helped her and the other members to save money, invest in small businesses, and become more financially independent. Photo Credit: Petterik Wiggers/ Oxfam

Tadesse, 39, believes that teamwork is key to family success. “I help around the house because we need to work together, to win life together,” he says. “When there are chores, I don’t wait for her. And I don’t sit around watching her do chores.” His commitment extends to cooking traditional dishes like shiro and tibs (cooked minced meat) and even washing clothes. The children love his cooking, he says with a smile. Simegn feels fortunate for his help, noting, “It’s in his nature. Even after work, he’ll help clean if there’s something to be done. Other women tell me I’m lucky to have him.”

Through the mini-shop, Simegn and Tadesse earn enough to meet basic needs, though customer traffic is limited. Most sales come from tela, which requires hard work and increasingly expensive grains. Weekly, the family nets about 1,000 birrs (18.18USD) from tela sales. But Simegn’s true breakthrough has been in savings. “I used to ask my husband for money. Now, I’m saving my own. I can save money for the future,” she says proudly.

The Self-help group loans are pivotal for many women. Members can borrow up to 50,000 birrs (909 USD), with the repayment interest dropping if payments are on time. Simegn’s 40,000-birr (716 USD) loan, carrying an interest of 14,000 birr (254 USD), yielded a profit of 14,800 birr (269 USD), which allowed her to further support her family. Even as conflict affected the region, Simegn’s self-help group demonstrated solidarity, permitting delayed loan repayments to ease burdens.

As a leader for five years, Simegn coordinates her group’s meetings, supports members’ financial plans, and manages the secretary and treasurer’s roles. Under her guidance, the group’s 18 members have transitioned from financial dependency to self-reliance. “Before, they sat around and had nothing to do,” she says. “Now, they’re saving money and starting businesses. No one is sitting around the house.” Simegn notes that before joining, many women endured domestic abuse. Now, empowered by their contributions, they have a voice, and their husbands have begun to support their involvement.

“We’re not just surviving—we’re building a life,” Simegn says. Her savings journey began modestly, with five birr (0.09USD or 9cents) a week, eventually rising to 400 birrs (7.27USD). Seeing the change this has brought, she encouraged other members to adopt the same habits. Today, her group holds assets worth 300,000 birr (5,454 USD).

Simegn Hailu is a leader of a self-help group in Sekota, Ethiopia. Photo credit: Petterik Wiggers/ Oxfam

Oxfam partners with Women Empowerment Action (WE-Action) to support about 300 self-help groups, reaching more than 5,700 women who are transforming their lives through savings, loans, and small businesses. These groups provide women the tools to build financial independence by starting small enterprises, such as shops and cafes. But beyond business, these groups also create a space for women to discuss health, understand their rights, and support each other in making positive life changes.

For women across Sekota and beyond, these gatherings open doors to personal growth and leadership. Thanks to these groups, over 140 women have stepped into community leadership roles, creating a ripple effect of empowerment. 

When Oxfam and WE-Action launched the self-help initiative, they partnered with local governments to identify women and girls facing the greatest challenges across each kebele (local district) by establishing selection committees with community leaders. This effort initially faced resistance due to suspicions around the project’s intentions; some community members, including religious leaders, worried that it might introduce unwanted social changes or even push a different religion. Addressing these concerns, the project involved religious and influential leaders in training sessions on issues like early marriage, sexual and reproductive health, and local norms, demonstrating that the sole goal was to empower women economically and socially. Over time, these leaders became supportive collaborators, forming Community Action Groups that met regularly to discuss community needs and work alongside the government. Simegn’s group, as part of this broader effort, now holds family dialogue sessions and community meetings to educate others on health, social issues, and climate resilience, gradually shifting mindsets and building a stronger, more informed community.

Now, their work has inspired other women in the community to seek membership. Although the group can only accommodate 20 members, Simegn finds fulfillment in the empowerment of those who’ve joined. “When they say they feel more independent and tell me how much they’re saving, it makes me happy,” she says.