At just fourteen, Bayush began building a life with her husband on gifted farmland and a grass-roofed home. She made local alcohol to sell while her husband worked the land with help from his parents. When Bayush was awarded a microloan from Project Ethiopia in 2023, a new chapter began for their family.

Bayat's story captures the strength and resilience of an individual navigating challenges and turning them into opportunities. Her determination to improve her family's circumstances, coupled with the support from Project Ethiopia, exemplifies the impact of microloans in fostering entrepreneurship and financial independence.

Assaye and Amarech live in the Dengeshta community and have been married for 35 years, but their families have lived only 2 km from one another all their lives. When they were first married, Assaye and Amarech lived with Assaye’s family. After four years, the couple received one hectare farmland (approximately 2.5 acres) from Assaye’s parents who also built them a tikul (the traditional grass roofed home in the countryside) to start their own family.

What would a small business or budding entrepreneur be able to do with a loan of $300 in the U.S.? Likely not very much. However, in rural Ethiopia, a loan this size can make a very significant difference in the life and livelihood of the loan recipient and their family.

Independence is something all humans crave. We all desire the power to make our own decisions, provide for our family, and be financially independent. When we have these things, it instills confidence, security, and joy in us. For many parts of the world a microloan is the start to independence.