Tra le cinquanta e le ottanta enjere al giorno (una sorta di pane etiope piatto e spugnoso che accompagna ogni pietanza) per un guadagno che può andare dai 100 ai 160 ETB (da 5 a 8 euro circa): sono questi i dati di partenza dell’attività avviata dall’associazione di ex housemaid di Debre Markos, nata grazie al sostegno del CVM (Comunità Volontari per il Mondo). Sono una decina di donne ma soprattutto ragazze, alcune giovanissime, che fino a qualche mese fa lavoravano come domestiche in casa d’altri, in condizioni spesso disumane, faticando per quindici ore al giorno in cambio di salari bassi, quando venivano pagati, e dovendo sottostare a soprusi e maltrattamenti di ogni tipo. Alcune di loro sono state anche violentate dai maschi delle famiglie in cui prestavano servizio, a volte ne è scaturita una gravidanza, ma mai hanno avuto giustizia per l’abuso subito. Ora per loro si apre una nuova strada: hanno abbandonato le precedenti attività e, grazie ad un progetto del CVM e ad un primo aiuto economico fornito dall’ONG (circa 20.000 ETB), hanno formato un’associazione legale e avviato una propria attività: la preparazione e la vendita dell’enjera. Hanno their laboratory, spacious and equipped with everything you need, housed in a rented house, and have organized groups that work with two shifts every other day.
Preparations for the creation of this new reality began two months ago with the selection of households, thanks to the cooperation of the association of poor women is also supported by the CVM, which was followed by a careful evaluation of the choice ' activities and then purchase the materials. For two weeks the lab has taken to work in full swing and the girls are enthusiastic, have a great desire to do because this is their big chance. Some of them I had met just arrived in Ethiopia, were affected by their conditions, desperate for the inability to change their lives, overwhelmed by the weight of too many difficulties and sacrifices, all to be faced alone, without being able to count on anyone. Now in their eyes I see a new hope, I see a vitality that was not there before, a glimmer of faith that seeks to make inroads. "Our life is changing before we were forced to obey the orders of bosses often cruel and could not do anything against the mistreatment that period. Now we have our business, we manage our work, we talk together, make decisions together, we are no longer subjected to the impositions of others, "says coordinator of the association, Maymanot Tefera. "We were always in distress, fearing the violence of men were working, now that risk is gone," he adds immediately Masitea Mengistu, while nursing her baby that brings daily to work. To be in the early activity is going well, but you need to develop it further and the strength to do are: "For now we supply only one hotel, we have to find other customers for a profit that allows us to live only with this entry. Now some of us do other odd jobs, like selling sugar cane along the road, but when we have more customers from this activity will draw all resources necessary. We will work hard and expand our production, "says Embet Linger. With the original amount that have been bought with the need to start preparing dell'enjera, spending about 6,000 ETB (approximately 300 €) and depositing the remainder in a joint bank account, in view of the future and possible sudden need. Some fear there is still and will remain until they find new customers, but there is a strong optimism in the air, a great desire to do and being together, united, we can count on each other, not to be more alone in facing all the difficulties infuses a previously unknown security. In the search for new customers, possono poi contare sull’appoggio del CVM e tramite questa ONG dell’Ufficio del Microcredito, che si sta dando da fare per aiutarle ad ampliare l’attività.
Camilla Corradini (Volontaria CVM in Etiopia)
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