The city of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia was experiencing a huge influx of population growth, from 2.5 million to 8 million people! They were families wanting a better life, so they moved from the country to the city. Unfortunately, some husbands died which left those women fending for themselves while trying to support their families.
Meretech Agafar whose husband was the pastor at Gotera Church began reaching out to the women. They would come to the church and learn sewing skills. She also taught them money management and life skills. The church would offer small loans to the women to get their businesses started. Meretech helped 600+ women over a 19 year period! All was going well until Gotera Church was unable to continue supporting the training program following COVID.
Courtney noticed that the women just starting in the program were downcast. They had very little hope but were there trying to take the steps towards changing their situation for the better. God saw these women and was working on the details. Through Westgate Church in Plymouth, MN we were able to provide funding for one year which replaced the support that Gotera Church had been providing. God Sees Me has continued this support.
Courtney and Meretech worked together to find a small space to rent so they could continue the program. While they were working together one of the ladies said, “before you came here, we called ourselves the Forgotten Ones. I now know God Sees Me.” The Forgotten Ones have now become the Ethiopian Soul Sisters because they know God Sees Them!
Sewing Projects
The Ethiopian Soul Sisters make projects and sell them in the marketplace. Some of the projects include sewing pillows, cross-over bags, personal care products and aprons. Some women weave baskets to sell in the marketplace.
Courtney brings product back with her to help support the business owners. She does pop-up sales locally and they are featured at Art to Heart in Hamel, MN. This store supports many small business owners from around the world!
ETHIOPIA SOUL SISTERS EXPAND
In 2024 a few of the Ethiopian Soul Sisters (ESS) women decided to partner and open a café. They had no restaurant skills at the time but saw the need and wanted to meet the need. At the same time Courtney saw that the ESS training space was too small. They needed more space.
Believing that God would provide, Courtney asked the ladies to look for another space. God provided by having the owners of the original space offer them an additional space for only $150 more per month. This inspired some of the women to work together to open a cafe!
They prepared a simple take away meal to sell but that first day had some food left over. For some, this would have been a very sad day. But not for these determined café owners who were stepping forward in faith. They asked the Lord what to do. Meretech’s teenage daughter, Helina, heard about the extra food and asked if she could have it to feed hungry children. The women gladly said yes!
Five days a week the women in the cafe give food to the children and Helina. That’s 15 meals a day, 75 meals per week and 300 meals/month!