Meet Adanech, Hana, Elsa and their fellow Graduates

Just last month, eight women and one husband, from the Empowerment Program crossed the stage at Mary Help Vocational College, marking a milestone that once felt out of reach.

Four received diplomas in Early Childhood Caregiving, while five earned certificates in Sewing and Dressmaking. For each of them, this moment represents far more than a credential. With an average education level of Grade 5, returning to the classroom as adults required courage, perseverance, and a deep commitment to building a different future.

Today, that future is already beginning to take shape. Some graduates are now working in garment factories, others in leather-making shops, and several have found positions in preschools and daycare centres.

We are incredibly proud of each of them. Through access to education and vocational training, doors have opened that once seemed firmly closed. Their lives, and the lives of their families, are being transformed.