Zalika’s hunger-beating sheep and a group of self-help

Multiple challenges

Then, on 29 June of 2020, to add to the growing health and economic problems caused by Covid-19, the city faced a day of violence that left more than 100 people dead and many more with their businesses and homes destroyed.

For everyone in Shashemene, the effects of these tragedies have been hard and long-lasting, but for Zalika, there have been added challenges.

In Ethiopia, people who are diagnosed with leprosy have to live in segregated areas, away from the rest of the population. Zalika has had to live as part of a community that is separate from the rest of society in Shashemene since her diagnosis at 17 years old. That’s a long time ago, she tells us. Now, she is a widow and has three grandchildren she raised on her own.

Waiting for hope

‘As a result of Covid, we were told to be at home,’ she says, ‘sometimes my grandchildren and I went days without food.

‘I was eagerly waiting for my chance to be considered by someone – seeing others being supported and thriving for many years. Then, God’s appointed time came!’

Zalika is one of the 200 elderly people living with disabilities who have received financial support through a project called Nothing About Us Without Us funded by Tearfund and our local partner. The project gave Zalika enough money to provide for some of her family’s immediate needs and also to buy a pregnant ewe. The ewe gave birth to twin lambs a few days later.

A growing investment!

Now those lambs have grown up and Zalika has sold two of her sheep and bought another pregnant ewe, which means she’s already made a profit.

And Zalika has bigger goals. She told our team, ‘I have a dream to have cattle and to add milk into my diet before I die!’

Self-help group strength

As well as this, Zalika has joined a self-help group with other members of her community. Together, they save money to invest when they need it, and the group members look out and support each other with the health challenges that leprosy causes.

You can read another story about self-help groups here.