Meet Rediet Takele

Now Gainfully Employed in Awassa, Ethiopia

Rediet is a 20 year old woman living in Awassa, Ethiopia. She is the third of four children and lives with her mother.

Her family had always faced challenges, but their fortunes really changed after her father passed away and her mother, who is HIV-positive, became less able to provide for the family. Her elder brother and sister have both left home and are now caring for families of their own and, while they try to help supplement the household, their support has not been enough to house and feed the family, certainly not enough to ensure that Rediet and her younger sister could attend school.

Rediet, now the eldest child in the household, was selected by CAP AIDS partner Tilla Association of Positive Women, in which her mother is a member, to receive support through our Safe Livelihoods Project. She was selected for vocational training where she could learn a marketable skill and find employment to help support her mother and younger sister.

Rediet was enrolled at Solomon Abeqaj Hair Dressing Institute, where she completed a four-month training course learning all the techniques needed to give women both classic and the latest styles.

The course fees were paid from CAP AIDS' project funds. During the training period, Rediet was also provided with a transportation allowance so that she could reach the institute in town each day as well as life skills counselling by the team at Tilla.

"Before the training I was just living with my mother without any income. But now I am able to bring an income for my mother, my sister and also for me."

It turns out Rediet was a natural! She graduated from the course at the top of her class and, she so impressed the staff at the institute, that upon graduating she was offered a job as an instructor.

Rediet has been employed at Abeqaj Hair Dressing Institute since June and is now earning 500Birr per month which is a significant boost to their household income and a great support for her mother.

"I am also happy of having this chance to educate other people who like me are infected or affected by HIV&AIDS. It is a great help to me and for them also."

Rediet is one of 14 youth in Awassa who have completed training in hair dressing through this project. Thanks to the support of CAP AIDS donors and CIDA and our ongoing partnership with Tilla, there are currently 8 more youth enrolled in the training course - where they now have the opportunity to learn from Rediet!