Empowering Ethiopian Women Through the Art of Leather Crafting
Published: May 13, 2024 Reading time: 2 minutes
Ethiopia boasts the highest number of livestock in Africa, however, there is a shortage of skilled workforce in the country. The LISEC project, which stands for Leather Initiative for Sustainable Employment Creation, has been initiated with the support of European Union to create green jobs and revolutionize the leather industry in Modjo and nearby cities. One of the beneficiaries of this project is a successful female entrepreneur named Yetimwork who has been able to provide employment to nearly 60 individuals, most of whom are women, in the leather sector.
Nestled in the heart of the bustling city of Adama lies a haven of creativity and craftsmanship—the Bilisuma Leather Products Workshop. This business is owned and operated by Yetimwork Mitiku. Bilisuma produces leather products like bags, belts, wallets, shoes, and keyholders.
"Bilisuma" means freedom in the Oromiffa language. Yetimwork employs dozens of people, helping them secure a more stable lifestyle with regular income.
Yetimwork's journey began with a single sewing machine and a dream. She embarked on her entrepreneurial adventure with a capital of 600,000 ETB (€9,730) and a growing team of 28 workers. Supported by the LISEC, Yetimwork's enthusiasm blossomed into a visionary enterprise driven by a desire to make a difference in her community.
Even though Ethiopia has a tremendous potential leather market, enterprises like Bilisuma must be empowered with essential business development and management skills. This project supports businesses through training and apprenticeship opportunities to help entrepreneurs acquire practical knowledge.
Yetimwork is one of the 2,531 youths the LISEC supported to develop their businesses. She was trained in financial management, reusing waste materials, and customer handling, skills that are indispensable to running a business.
Support and training create motivation
Yetimwork is dedicated to applying what she learned. She was among five businesses that received machines to scale up their productivity. She was able to recruit more human resources and produce various new leather products, attracting many customers.
Today, her workshop is a bustling hive of activity, employing 57 individuals, predominantly women and mothers. Her capital has jumped from 600,000 to 2.3 million ETB (€9,730 to €37,334).
For Yetimwork, empowering women is not just a business strategy but a deeply held belief. She understands the transformative power of supporting women, believing them to be the backbone of a nation.
Leather Initiative for Sustainable Employment Creation (LISEC) in Ethiopia is a three-year programme funded by the European Union, creating more significant economic and decent employment opportunities for youth through the development of the Ethiopian leather industry.
