Bayush’s Story: Building a Life One Loan at a Time
Bayush and her husband Yibeltal began their life together 32 years ago when she was just fourteen. Their first year of marriage was spent under the roof of Yibeltal’s parents. With a gift of half a hectare of farmland from Yibeltal's parents and an ox from both of their parents, they built a grass-roofed home on their own land.
But life was hard without any means for income. Bayush began preparing local alcohol to sell while Yibeltal worked the land with help from his parents. In time, two daughters, Fikir and Tensaye, joined the family.
Bayush later helped to found the Girarghe Saving and Credit Association and still serves on its board today. With small loans from this association, she began raising chickens and keeping bees using traditional hives.
Thanks to a microloan of 25,000 birr from Project Ethiopia in 2023, Bayush launched a sheep-fattening business. The profits allowed her to purchase a heifer for 80,000 birr. That heifer has since given birth, and today Bayush has a thriving dairy business, selling 12 liters of milk daily to the local milk association, and earning 17,280 birr per month (about $120 USD).
Project Ethiopia also provided her with three organic frame beehives, modern equipment, and training. This November, she expects to harvest 40 kg of honey, keeping 5 kg for her family and selling the rest for an estimated 35,000 birr ($240 USD).
“My family life is become hopeful because of Project Ethiopia life changing support and training. These supports have made an absolute difference. My family future is becoming bright. Long live project Ethiopia”
Bayush’s savings now total over 24,000 birr. She owns five cows, three organic beehives, and four traditional hives. She’s ready to repay her loan and seek additional capital to expand her dairy and honey production. And her daughters? Fikir is now 28 and working in a saving and credit association in Dengeshta while Tensaye is 26 and working in a private company in Bahir Dar.
Bayush's story is one of grit, growth, and gratitude. And through her journey, we see the heart of our mission: creating hope and empowering families to shape their own futures, one step at a time.
