In Ethiopia’s Gamo Zone, Vita creates meaningful change by empowering women by introducing improved cooking technologies. These efforts transform daily lives and contribute to significant socio-economic and environmental advancements. This story highlights the experiences of Miserak Tanga, South Ethiopia Government Gamo Zone Expert in the Mine and Energy Department and Gender Expert, and Mekedes Dawit, South Ethiopia Government Gamo Zone Women and Children Affairs and Gender Expert, who are key contributors to this change.

Sustainable Cooking

Miserak Tanga has seen the tangible benefits of Vita’s interventions. She highlights how the introduction of improved cookstoves has enhanced the quality of life for women in the community. “Vita’s project gives women the tools to become economically independent,” she explains. By producing and selling these stoves, women create new income streams, empowering them to make household decisions independently and financially stand on their own feet.

Mekedes Dawit shares how the project aligns with her office’s goals. “Our objective is to ensure that women are included in all aspects of development,” she states. Vita’s work is crucial because it reduces the time women spend on traditional cooking, freeing them to participate more fully in economic and community life.”

Impact

The benefits of Vita’s improved cookstoves extend beyond economic empowerment. They also play a critical role in enhancing women’s political and social standing. By earning their income, women gain a stronger voice in their households and communities, participating more actively in decision-making processes.

“The project empowers women on multiple levels—politically, economically, and socially,” says Miserak Tanga. “As women adopt these stoves, their neighbours are inspired to do the same, creating a positive social influence. Economically, women are generating income and investing in other opportunities.”

Socially, the project fosters a strong sense of community and shared purpose. Women are leading the way in embracing change and influencing others to follow suit, helping to shift societal norms towards greater gender equality.

Community-Led Approach

Vita’s success in the Gamo Zone is also attributed to its community-led approach. This method ensures that solutions are developed with direct input from the people they affect, making the interventions more effective and sustainable. Mekedes Dawit praises this approach: “Initially, we were unsure how the community-led model would work, but its effectiveness has surpassed our expectations. It empowers the community to identify their challenges and develop their solutions.”

This approach has accelerated the adoption of improved stoves and proven to be a powerful tool for other development initiatives. Mekedes suggests this model could be applied across different sectors to enhance community development.

Expanding Vita’s Reach

Miserak Tanga and Mekedes Dawit advocate for expanding Vita’s project across more communities in Ethiopia. The results in the Gamo Zone have shown that with the right support, women can drive meaningful and lasting change. Miserak concludes, “Vita is alleviating some of the government’s burdens by supporting communities with vital technology. We hope to see this project expanded to benefit all communities in the Gamo Zone and beyond.”

Vita’s work in the Gamo Zone is an example of how targeted, community-led initiatives can empower women, enhance economic opportunities, and foster sustainable development. By placing women at the centre of these efforts, Vita is transforming lives and building more robust, resilient communities for the future.

Listen to Miserak and Mekedes’ Vita Voices podcast episode at the following link: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/vitavoices/episodes/2024-08-22T02_38_44-07_00