Kokebe Ababa was honoured and surprised in equal measure, when villagers elected her to serve on the board of her local village savings and credit cooperative (RUSACCO).<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a passion to serve my community, and I wanted to do it. I was prepared to work hard, which is why they elected me,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Looking back on that moment a few years later, Kokebe, a mother-of-four, says that her election also allowed her to overcome a painful shyness and lack of confidence that meant she would hardly ever speak in front of strangers.<\/p>\n
Training she received from Self Help Africa, together with the new responsibility has enabled Kokebe, from Hitossa village in Ethiopia, to start taking a more active role in decision making at home.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past my husband used to take all the decisions in the family. Now I have the confidence to express an opinion, and we discuss things together before making a decision.\u201d<\/p>\n