There is an African proverb which says when you educate a woman, you educate a nation.
Magreth Omari makes batiks, stools, embroidery and soap. She participated in an ECHO training program called “Creative Capacity Building” three years ago. She was challenged in her soap-making to cut straight, attractive bars. Her product was seen as low quality and the price reflected it. During the training, participants were tasked with developing solutions to the challenges they faced. Magreth’s group created a soap cutter.
She received a micro-grant to continue improving it. She recently wrote to us: “The attractiveness of my soap bars drastically changed, and I am seeing increased prices and sales.” She has a vision for the future, that her children will “attain entrepreneurship skills and do better than what I’m doing now. I have also a passion to help my fellow women, especially those abandoned by their husbands and widows.”
Magreth has taken what she learned from ECHO, has developed her business, and is now training other women. Over the last year, ECHO trained 114% more women. Their enthusiasm – and the knowledge they’ve gained — is contagious!
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ECHO provides sustainable options to world hunger through agricultural training, innovative options, and networking with community leaders and missionaries in 180 countries and online through ECHOcommunity.org. ECHO seeks to find agricultural solutions for families growing food under difficult conditions. ECHO’s international headquarters is located in Fort Myers, FL. Visit echonet.org
