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![31 January 2019, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: EECMY president Rev. Yonas Dibisa meets with members of the Tesfa ('hope') self-help group for women, which undertakes community banking to raise women's economic status and independence. Through the Mekane Yesus Food Security Project for Lemo Community, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus' development wing Development and Social Services Commission helps women raise their socio-economic status through community banking efforts and education, and helps improve communities' food security through training in agricultural methods suitable in a changing climate. [Image captured on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation, whose member churches and partners can use it free of charge to report about the LWF’s work, with credit to ’LWF/Albin Hillert’ upon publication.]](https://archive.lifeonearthpictures.com/img-get2/I0000k1xTqGmQf8w/fill=/fit=250x250/I0000k1xTqGmQf8w.jpg)
![31 January 2019, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: The Tesfa ('hope') self-help group in Hadiya shares a moment of prayer. Through the Mekane Yesus Food Security Project for Lemo Community, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus' development wing Development and Social Services Commission helps women raise their socio-economic status through community banking efforts and education, and helps improve communities' food security through training in agricultural methods suitable in a changing climate. [Image captured on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation, whose member churches and partners can use it free of charge to report about the LWF’s work, with credit to ’LWF/Albin Hillert’ upon publication.]](https://archive.lifeonearthpictures.com/img-get2/I0000rUQ0hBrStig/fill=/fit=250x250/I0000rUQ0hBrStig.jpg)
![31 January 2019, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: EECMY president Rev. Yonas Dibisa leads a word of prayer together with members of the Tesfa ('hope') self-help group for women, which undertakes community banking to raise women's economic status and independence. Through the Mekane Yesus Food Security Project for Lemo Community, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus' development wing Development and Social Services Commission helps women raise their socio-economic status through community banking efforts and education, and helps improve communities' food security through training in agricultural methods suitable in a changing climate. [Image captured on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation, whose member churches and partners can use it free of charge to report about the LWF’s work, with credit to ’LWF/Albin Hillert’ upon publication.]](https://archive.lifeonearthpictures.com/img-get2/I0000DkNxviLQ3rU/fill=/fit=250x250/I0000DkNxviLQ3rU.jpg)
![31 January 2019, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: Ato Kassa's farm is a model farm in the EECMY project in Lemo Community. 20 other farmers learn from the practices developed and implemented at Ato Kassa's farm, with support from the EECMY. Through the Mekane Yesus Food Security Project for Lemo Community, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus' development wing Development and Social Services Commission helps women raise their socio-economic status through community banking efforts and education, and helps improve communities' food security through training in agricultural methods suitable in a changing climate. [Image captured on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation, whose member churches and partners can use it free of charge to report about the LWF’s work, with credit to ’LWF/Albin Hillert’ upon publication.]](https://archive.lifeonearthpictures.com/img-get2/I0000.X8.dnkiro4/fill=/fit=250x250/I0000.X8.dnkiro4.jpg)
![31 January 2019, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: Ato Kassa's farm is a model farm in the EECMY project in Lemo Community. 20 other farmers learn from the practices developed and implemented at Ato Kassa's farm, with support from the EECMY. Through the Mekane Yesus Food Security Project for Lemo Community, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus' development wing Development and Social Services Commission helps women raise their socio-economic status through community banking efforts and education, and helps improve communities' food security through training in agricultural methods suitable in a changing climate. [Image captured on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation, whose member churches and partners can use it free of charge to report about the LWF’s work, with credit to ’LWF/Albin Hillert’ upon publication.]](https://archive.lifeonearthpictures.com/img-get2/I0000waUFGpBbdWY/fill=/fit=250x250/I0000waUFGpBbdWY.jpg)
![31 January 2019, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: Alamizu Abose is currently chairing the Tesfa ('hope') self-help group in Hadiya. Through the Mekane Yesus Food Security Project for Lemo Community, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus' development wing Development and Social Services Commission helps women raise their socio-economic status through community banking efforts and education, and helps improve communities' food security through training in agricultural methods suitable in a changing climate. [Image captured on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation, whose member churches and partners can use it free of charge to report about the LWF’s work, with credit to ’LWF/Albin Hillert’ upon publication.]](https://archive.lifeonearthpictures.com/img-get2/I0000Zeq8905dfb8/fill=/fit=250x250/I0000Zeq8905dfb8.jpg)
![31 January 2019, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: A group of deaf children conclude a prayer and dance performance in sign language. In Hossana, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus runs a school for deaf children, giving access to education to hundreds of children who may otherwise have been at risk of marginalization. [Image captured on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation, whose member churches and partners can use it free of charge to report about the LWF’s work, with credit to ’LWF/Albin Hillert’ upon publication.]](https://archive.lifeonearthpictures.com/img-get2/I0000MoNK4AvBdNo/fill=/fit=250x250/I0000MoNK4AvBdNo.jpg)
![31 January 2019, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: Rev. Dr Martin Junge (right) greets a boy who has climbed a tree in the Hadiya area. [Image captured on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation, whose member churches and partners can use it free of charge to report about the LWF’s work, with credit to ’LWF/Albin Hillert’ upon publication.]](https://archive.lifeonearthpictures.com/img-get2/I0000znP7IT25TP4/fill=/fit=250x250/I0000znP7IT25TP4.jpg)
![31 January 2019, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: A group of deaf children conclude a prayer and dance performance in sign language. In Hossana, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus runs a school for deaf children, giving access to education to hundreds of children who may otherwise have been at risk of marginalization. [Image captured on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation, whose member churches and partners can use it free of charge to report about the LWF’s work, with credit to ’LWF/Albin Hillert’ upon publication.]](https://archive.lifeonearthpictures.com/img-get2/I0000QJ2AEno2NqU/fill=/fit=250x250/I0000QJ2AEno2NqU.jpg)
![31 January 2019, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: In Hossana, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus runs a school for deaf children, giving access to education to hundreds of children who may otherwise have been at risk of marginalization. [Image captured on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation, whose member churches and partners can use it free of charge to report about the LWF’s work, with credit to ’LWF/Albin Hillert’ upon publication.]](https://archive.lifeonearthpictures.com/img-get2/I0000HSkvORB381Y/fill=/fit=250x250/I0000HSkvORB381Y.jpg)
![31 January 2019, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: “People are not aware of the risks of this journey, and what they will find when they arrive where they are going,” says Samira Alemu, who left home in Ethiopia to work in Dubai in 2016. Three years later, she tells a story of unfulfilled promises, and a difficult journey back to where she is today. “There is risk of violence, of rape and abuse, you are more exposed to the risk of disease. I lost all my belongings on the way, except one shoe,” she recalls. “You think you will find a better life, but it is not what you first think.” In south central Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) are helping young migrant returnees rebuild their lives through a project called Symbols of Hope. In a context where poverty can lead to desperation and the prospect of a different life can seem distant, Ethiopia has seen many young people chose to migrate, under the promise of an income big enough to share back home, and of a better, safer life. Some go to find employment in South Africa, others go to work in households in the Middle East. Yet the promises rarely turn out as proclaimed, and many have returned home traumatized, some even destitute, as they had given up whatever land they once owned to afford a plane ticket. At the heart of the Symbols of Hope project is the goal to build awareness about the risks involved in illegal migration, and to empower young people to find alternative ways of making a living through training in business development. [Image captured on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation, whose member churches and partners can use it free of charge to report about the LWF’s work, with credit to ’LWF/Albin Hillert’ upon publication.]](https://archive.lifeonearthpictures.com/img-get2/I0000WpNjPop2W1Y/fill=/fit=250x250/I0000WpNjPop2W1Y.jpg)
![31 January 2019, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: In south central Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) are helping young migrant returnees rebuild their lives through a project called Symbols of Hope. In a context where poverty can lead to desperation and the prospect of a different life can seem distant, Ethiopia has seen many young people chose to migrate, under the promise of an income big enough to share back home, and of a better, safer life. Some go to find employment in South Africa, others go to work in households in the Middle East. Yet the promises rarely turn out as proclaimed, and many have returned home traumatized, some even destitute, as they had given up whatever land they once owned to afford a plane ticket. At the heart of the Symbols of Hope project is the goal to build awareness about the risks involved in illegal migration, and to empower young people to find alternative ways of making a living through training in business development. [Image captured on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation, whose member churches and partners can use it free of charge to report about the LWF’s work, with credit to ’LWF/Albin Hillert’ upon publication.]](https://archive.lifeonearthpictures.com/img-get2/I0000FJ.RtV_HnBo/fill=/fit=250x250/I0000FJ.RtV_HnBo.jpg)
![31 January 2019, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: “People are not aware of the risks of this journey, and what they will find when they arrive where they are going,” says Samira Alemu, who left home in Ethiopia to work in Dubai in 2016. Three years later, she tells a story of unfulfilled promises, and a difficult journey back to where she is today. “There is risk of violence, of rape and abuse, you are more exposed to the risk of disease. I lost all my belongings on the way, except one shoe,” she recalls. “You think you will find a better life, but it is not what you first think.” In south central Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) are helping young migrant returnees rebuild their lives through a project called Symbols of Hope. In a context where poverty can lead to desperation and the prospect of a different life can seem distant, Ethiopia has seen many young people chose to migrate, under the promise of an income big enough to share back home, and of a better, safer life. Some go to find employment in South Africa, others go to work in households in the Middle East. Yet the promises rarely turn out as proclaimed, and many have returned home traumatized, some even destitute, as they had given up whatever land they once owned to afford a plane ticket. At the heart of the Symbols of Hope project is the goal to build awareness about the risks involved in illegal migration, and to empower young people to find alternative ways of making a living through training in business development. [Image captured on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation, whose member churches and partners can use it free of charge to report about the LWF’s work, with credit to ’LWF/Albin Hillert’ upon publication.]](https://archive.lifeonearthpictures.com/img-get2/I0000ytqeUCx4s4E/fill=/fit=250x250/I0000ytqeUCx4s4E.jpg)
![31 January 2019, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: In south central Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) are helping young migrant returnees rebuild their lives through a project called Symbols of Hope. In a context where poverty can lead to desperation and the prospect of a different life can seem distant, Ethiopia has seen many young people chose to migrate, under the promise of an income big enough to share back home, and of a better, safer life. Some go to find employment in South Africa, others go to work in households in the Middle East. Yet the promises rarely turn out as proclaimed, and many have returned home traumatized, some even destitute, as they had given up whatever land they once owned to afford a plane ticket. At the heart of the Symbols of Hope project is the goal to build awareness about the risks involved in illegal migration, and to empower young people to find alternative ways of making a living through training in business development. [Image captured on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation, whose member churches and partners can use it free of charge to report about the LWF’s work, with credit to ’LWF/Albin Hillert’ upon publication.]](https://archive.lifeonearthpictures.com/img-get2/I0000ZVRqjsuvd2A/fill=/fit=250x250/I0000ZVRqjsuvd2A.jpg)
![31 January 2019, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: “People are not aware of the risks of this journey, and what they will find when they arrive where they are going,” says Samira Alemu, who left home in Ethiopia to work in Dubai in 2016. Three years later, she tells a story of unfulfilled promises, and a difficult journey back to where she is today. “There is risk of violence, of rape and abuse, you are more exposed to the risk of disease. I lost all my belongings on the way, except one shoe,” she recalls. “You think you will find a better life, but it is not what you first think.” In south central Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) are helping young migrant returnees rebuild their lives through a project called Symbols of Hope. In a context where poverty can lead to desperation and the prospect of a different life can seem distant, Ethiopia has seen many young people chose to migrate, under the promise of an income big enough to share back home, and of a better, safer life. Some go to find employment in South Africa, others go to work in households in the Middle East. Yet the promises rarely turn out as proclaimed, and many have returned home traumatized, some even destitute, as they had given up whatever land they once owned to afford a plane ticket. At the heart of the Symbols of Hope project is the goal to build awareness about the risks involved in illegal migration, and to empower young people to find alternative ways of making a living through training in business development. [Image captured on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation, whose member churches and partners can use it free of charge to report about the LWF’s work, with credit to ’LWF/Albin Hillert’ upon publication.]](https://archive.lifeonearthpictures.com/img-get2/I0000V9c4EBjlaV8/fill=/fit=250x250/I0000V9c4EBjlaV8.jpg)
