The testimonies of IGA group members mothers are almost the same in all the three project regions. FGD participating women IGA group members in all the woredas covered attested how the revenues from IGA group members’ business engagement has helped in sending children to school. “The profit from our business helped to support all our children. All members are sending children to school. Our chairperson Besha Guye is a good mobilizer and role model. Since her son has become educated and is now a teacher in our local school, she is a role model mother”. Shege Gemechu, Treasurer of Senbete Lencho IGA group, Siraro. Genet Laroro, Chair Lady of women IGA group in Bifola Primary school where LIA-E was the supporting organization, had almost similar observation when she said “Through the income that we got from engaging in IGA activities as an organized group, we are able to feed, clothe and send our children to school. Both boys and girls go to school without discrimination”. The words Nugusse Kebede, PTA treasurer Chewsar in Este is a comprehensive evidence of how IGA group mothers supported the education of their children when testified saying “Children from poor families are now confident and follow their education as they are supplied with what they need by their parents that benefit from IGA. They don’t drop out of school and feel inferior due to lack of clothing or school materials. They learn and play as equals in school and take part in school clubs.” The information provided above from IGA members who are the direct owners of the self-help groups, their children who are learning in the schools visited and those institutions who are close to them as well as what the evaluation team was able to observed and triangulate information from diverse sources are sufficient to conclude that revenues from IGA obtained by mothers and male IGA participants have been used to maintain their children including girls in school. 42
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