HOPE ARISING INC

After months of severe drought in 2008, co-founders of Hope Arising Rochelle Sellers and Chantal Carr visited Dera, Ethiopia, the hometown of dear friends Betelhem Mamo and Woudneh Mulugeta. With the pleas of the people for help we heard their stories - no water to cook, bathe or clean their new born babies. Hundreds of children dropped out of school in search of water. Mothers left at 4am in search of water waiting in line up to 10 days for a can of water. Hope Arising joined World Bank, a local sugar factory and the government to complete a 20 mile water pipeline bringing clean, reliable water to over 60,000 people in the region. Today with water, health and hygiene initiatives and economic activity possible, we work with groups of women to start small businesses with a micro-loan and mentoring. Women who previously spent 80-100% of their income on food now spent 30-40% on food leaving more money for education, health and savings.