For example Anchinalu Fetene, a member of Selam Bandinet IGA group in Este says “our saving group has completely changed our life. The awareness, the funding, and the advice, have helped us improve our economic position. Our involvement in business has resulted in improving our life and the life of our children.” Other members of this same IGA group stated that all members are active and that their incomes have increased, their children get food, clothes and school materials. They also confirmed that all the children of every IGA members are in school enrolled in grade 1-8. Members of different PTA groups in Este have also established the view that members of IGA groups have shown economic improvement through their business activities with support from the projects. PTA members of Chewsar, Afer Gebeya and Alem Meda Primary schools invariably established that all IGA members have continued their saving and that even after selling some of their sheep a number of sheep still have up to 12 sheep including lambs. The words of Kasanech Ferede, a poor mother and member of Chewsar IGA Group who said “Our income has improved. From nothing we have many sheep. We send our children to school. Our house is cleaner and better organized. We pay our health expenses. We feed our children. We have learned business skills and able to expand. We have aspiration to grow” corroborates the above opinions of the PTA members of the three schools in Este Woreda where WCAT operated. The stories about the economic improvements of poor mothers engaged in project supported IGA groups organized by ADAA in Siraro are similar to that of Este Worda. IGA members and leaders as well as PTA members and school principals informed the evaluation team that that economic improvements of mothers engaged in IGA groups are real. In FGDs with members and leaders of two women IGA groups (Ijole Tegna and Biftu Genema) in Siraro, the participant mothers in both cases established that as a result of the earnings from their IGA business they have recovered their small family plots of land they mortgaged due to poverty before. Shonte Bedassa, the chair lady of Ijole Tegna IGA group confirming this says “because of our saving, we easily borrowed money from our association, planted potato and got profit reclaimed our lands, support ourselves and our family. We now have saving and are better off”. PTA leaders and members of Senbete Lencho, Biten Kubi and Loke Sifo primary schools also stated that the life of many destitute women has improved because of the support from ADAA and engagement in IGAs as a result of which their incomes increased enabling them to feed, clothe and send their children to school. 38
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