Sometimes prevention starts long before crisis happens. 

Through our partnership with Hope for Justice in Ethiopia, women and children are being supported through self-help groups, child wellbeing programs, safe shelter, and family reintegration efforts. 

Over the last two months: 

• 8,277 women participated in self-help groups  
• 4,800 children participated in wellbeing clubs  
• 152 formerly exploited children accessed safe shelter and trauma-informed care  
• 107 formerly exploited children were reunited with their families  

One of those women is Selamawit — a mother of six who once described herself as shy, financially dependent, and struggling to provide basic necessities for her children. This is especially troubling since we know that the region where this community is from has been identified as a source for exploitation… 

After joining a self-help group, she received training in savings, business skills, parenting, and child protection. What began as a small opportunity eventually grew into her own mini shop, helping provide income and stability for her family. 

But the transformation went beyond finances. 

Today, Selamawit says she has greater confidence, helps mentor other women in her community, and now makes household decisions alongside her husband as a team. 

She described the self-help group as: