By FAWE Ethiopia team

Eneye Wase is a fifth cohort scholar who lives in Sidama Regional State (previously known as Southern Nations, Nationalities Peoples’ regional state), Hawassa Town. She is from a poor background, currently pursuing her education at Tabor School.

She lives by herself under housing support from the MCF scholars program. Her family lives in Gonder which is more than 1000KM away from Hawassa. Since she has no financial support from any source to lead her life other than the program support, she does income generating activities mostly on the weekends; especially during this time when schools are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She regularly goes to market places to sell pajamas and cosmetics to support herself.

When we checked on Eneye, she said that she was in financial trouble because of an inflation in goods’ prices which has made it difficult to purchase basic necessities. Considering the existing financial difficulty, the COVID 19 response budget was facilitated and delivered to scholars. The support included an additional monthly stipend, house rent, air time and sanitary materials for Covid-19 protection such as face masks, alcohol and soap.

Getting this support, has relieved Eneye from financial pressures. She can now purchase basic necessities and save up on food and sanitary items. She has also used the support to enhance her income generating activities by having additional materials to sell which has seen her increase profit from her street trade. She is using COVID-19 protection support properly and she is in a more stable financial condition right now. Hence, she said, “The support has helped me in many ways and I am relieved from worry and stress. I now support myself by fulfilling basic needs and strengthen my income generating scheme for further growth and better income.”