It is great to see that our various programs have impact. We are happy to share some of our success stories.

Buzunesh Wudeta: Resilience and Economic Reintegration in Post-War Tigray

Location: Messanu Village, Tsirae Womberta Wereda, Tigray

Implementing organization: 4YBN (with support from 4YBIN Netherlands)

In the aftermath of the conflict in Tigray, youth unemployment and economic instability have left many young women facing a bleak choice between local stagnation and the perils of illegal migration. Bezunesh Wudeta, a 27-year-old from Messanu village, was once among those trapped in this cycle of dependency. After years of post-grade 10 unemployment, the lack of prospects led her to consider the dangerous journey to the Middle East, a path often marked by exploitation. Bezunesh’s trajectory shifted when she was enrolled in 4YBIN Agricultural Project, implemented by 4YBN with the support of 4YBIN Netherlands. Designed to promote women’s empowerment and sustainable livelihoods in war-affected Tigray, the project provided Bezunesh with a foundational poultry package: 50 chickens and three rounds of specialized feed. Leveraging the technical training provided, Bezunesh demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial acumen. Within one year, she successfully managed her poultry stock, sold the flock, and strategically reinvested the proceeds into small ruminants. Recognizing the local market demand and environmental suitability, she expanded her holdings to 10 goats. Bezunesh further diversified her economic portfolio by investing 130,000 ETB of her savings into a small retail shop and coffee house in Berki village. This transition from a dependent job-seeker to a multi-sector entrepreneur has secured her financial independence and also contributed to the revitalization of the local economy. Today, Bezunesh is a beacon of hope in Tsirae Womberta Wereda. Her future plans include scaling her livestock enterprise into a commercial dairy production unit. By seeking to invest in improved breeds and modern housing, she aims to supply nutritious milk products to her community. This success of Bezunesh Wudeta underscores the critical impact of the 4YBIN and 4YBIN Netherlands partnership as the project has successfully mitigated the drivers of unsafe migration and replaced desperation with a sustainable, dignified future. Her journey serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of Tigrayan women and the transformative potential of strategic humanitarian intervention.

Yemane Berhe: Restoring Livelihoods through Agricultural Intervention in Tigray, Yemane Berhe’s Journey of Resilience

Location: Messanu Village, Tsirae Womberta Wereda, Tigray

Implementing organization: 4YBN (with support from EGOAIZIA association and the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa)

For 50-year-old Yemane Berhe, a resident of Tsirae Wonberta Kebelle in Mesanu, the dreams he held for his five children were nearly extinguished by the devastating conflict in Tigray. The war did more than just disrupt the peace; it dismantled his livelihood, leaving the father of five in a desperate struggle to provide even the most basic necessities. As options for survival grew increasingly scarce, Yemane faced the daunting reality of a future where food, education, and healthcare for his two daughters and three sons seemed out of reach. The turning point came when Yemane was selected to participate in Gipukokoa Project implemented by 4YBIN. In a region where the soil held the potential for life but lacked the means to ignite it, the project provided him with a critical resource: high-quality, improved maize seeds. For Yemane, these were not merely agricultural inputs; they represented a second chance. As he returned to his fields, the act of planting became a ritual of recovery. Watching the seeds transform into a flourishing green covering, Yemane felt a renewed sense of purpose. The sight of the healthy stalks served as a living reminder of the stability he once knew and the future he was now determined to reclaim. Today, as the harvest season nears, the atmosphere in Yemane’s household has shifted from despair to anticipation. His plan is clear: by selling the surplus yield at the local market, he will generate the income necessary to settle school fees, cover medical costs, and secure his family’s food supply. This intervention has done more than just fill a granary; it has restored the dignity of a father who feared he had lost his ability to protect his children. Through the support of the Gipukokoa Project, Yemane is no longer just a survivor of war, he is a farmer reclaiming his independence, ensuring that his children will not only recover from the past but thrive in the years to come.

Elfu: The Architect of Her Own Future: Elfu’s Path to Empowerment

Location: Hawelti sub city, Mekelle city, Tigray

Implementing Organization: 4YBIN (with support from EGOAIZIA association)

In the wake of the Tigray conflict, Elfu found herself trapped in a cycle of profound emotional distress and economic paralysis. As a survivor of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the scars of her trauma were deepened by the daunting responsibility of raising two children in a shattered economy. For Elfu, the future was not a place of hope, but a source of constant, overwhelming worry. The substance for her transformation arrived through 4YBIN/EGOAIZIA support of Haftey I project, which provided her with 25 chickens and poultry feed for three months. While the intervention was agricultural in nature, its impact was deeply psychological. The poultry did more than provide a source of food; they offered Elfu a reason to look forward to each morning and a tangible way to reclaim her agency. Elfu embraced the opportunity with tireless dedication, evolving from a survivor in distress into a proactive entrepreneur. Today, her small backyard enterprise has flourished into a model of success. She now manages a thriving flock of 45 chickens, yielding a consistent 20 eggs per day. This steady production has completely reshaped her household’s financial landscape. The results of her hard work are remarkable. Elfu now covers all her family’s essential expenses independently and has achieved a milestone that once felt like a distant dream: she has built cash reserve of 6,000 ETB. “I used to spend my days in distress,” Elfu reflects, looking back on how far she has come. Now, her mind is occupied not by survival, but by strategy. With her savings, she is securing her children’s education and planning an ambitious expansion of her business. Elfu’s story is a powerful testament to how targeted support can help a woman transition from the shadows of victimhood to the forefront of visionary leadership, building a lasting legacy of resilience for her family.

From Shadows to Sunshine: The story of Genet Gebreysus

Location: Wukro

Implementing Organization: 4YBIN (with support from EGOAIZIA association and eLankdetza)

In the quiet corners of Tigray, where the echoes of conflict still linger, 35-year-old Genet Gebreysus is rewriting her life’s script. A widow and mother of three, Genet once carried the heavy silence of trauma, her life upended by the violence that claimed her husband and threatened her family’s future. However, her story took a transformative turn through a dedicated empowerment project implemented by 4YBIN, supported by the EGOAIZIA Association and eLankidetza. Genet’s path to recovery began when she was selected as one of 120 women to participate in a poultry activity. The activity focused on more than just survival; it introduced her to climate-resilient poultry farming and the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. Upon training provision, Genet received 25 improved-breed chickens and an initial supply of feed, the literal seeds of a new beginning.   For Genet, the poultry farm became a sanctuary. The rhythmic routine of tending to her flock offered a sense of purpose that had been missing since the war. As she nurtured her chickens, she found her own spirit healing. The clucking of the birds replaced the silence of grief with a soundtrack of hope. “With this business, I can feed my children and give them the education they deserve,” she shares, her eyes reflecting a newfound determination. “I am no longer just surviving; I am dreaming of expansion.”   The impact of this project, however, scales far beyond Genet’s backyard. By reclaiming her independence, she has become a pillar of strength for other women in her community. Her success is a living lesson in resilience, encouraging her neighbours to embrace sustainable agriculture and collective support.  As we look toward the future, the journey continues. To ensure that the progress made by women like Genet remains permanent, 4YBIN and its partners remain committed to strengthening the local ecosystem through veterinary support, financial literacy, and better market access.   Genet Gebreysus is more than a beneficiary; she is a testament to the power of opportunity. Through the collaborative efforts of 4YBIN, EGOAIZIA, and eLankidetza, she has moved from the shadows of conflict into the light of self-sufficiency, proving that with the right support, a healed community is built one success story at a time.