Transforming Lives

Ethiopian Designer Ready to Fly

Ethiopian designer Fikirte Addis feels like she is "ready to fly.” A one-time child psychologist with a passion for design, Addis took a risk in 2009 by launching her own fashion brand—Yefikir Design.

Zahra Daher displays a picture used in HIV/AIDS training.

“When we first started talking about HIV and AIDS, people would throw stones at us and chase us away,” says Zahra Daher. “It was as if by telling them about it we were bringing them the infection.”

Future site of a new health center in Djibouti.

This new building sits on the site of a groundbreaking public-private partnership.

Efficiency of one stop centers

Charles Majura used to spend days speeding through the congested streets of Dar es Salaam on his motorbike collecting stamps from various government offices spread around town. Even when he found the proper office, he couldn’t be confident that the government officer would be there.

Traditional weaving targeting the export market

Selamawit Teklu lives on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in a town known for the high numbers of traditional weavers from southern Ethiopia settling there. Traditional weavers are respected for their skills and tradition, yet Teklu and her neighbors are viewed as social outcasts with little upward mobility.

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