Self Help Africa’s supporters generated a whopping £32,500 to provide small loans in Ethiopia, in an amazing response to this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge.

The funds raised during the campaign exceeded the previous year’s total by over £10k. Over 80 UK supporters had their donation doubled by the seasonal ‘Big Give’ challenge thanks to a match-funding pot of £15,000.

Self Help Africa has been a partner in the Big Give Christmas Challenge for close to a decade, and in that time has received in excess of £200k in match funding from the seasonal charity initiative.

“We’re so grateful to all of the supporters who backed this year’s campaign. The funds raised will allow us to provide small income generating loans to thousands of women in Ethiopia”, said Self Help Africa’s appeal organiser Steph Smith.

Self Help Africa’s Rural Savings and Credit Cooperative (RuSACCO) project provides small business loans that support rural poor people to establish their own on and off-farm income generating small businesses. In a country where less than 10% of rural people have a bank account, small loans can play a crucial role in boosting household incomes.

Funds raised will enable farmers like Aster Ayele to increase their savings and disposable income, building their resilience to external shocks and providing a better future for their families.

Watch Aster’s story: