It started with a single donation – a bread-making machine given by a supporter who wanted to do more than just provide meals. Today, that machine is the heart of a thriving bakery run by five women who were once beneficiaries of Babul Keyer USA's feeding program.
"I remember when the machine arrived," says Hawa, now the bakery's manager. "None of us knew how to use it. But Babul Keyer USA brought in a trainer, and we learned together. We learned to make bread, cookies, and traditional snacks."
The women, all former feeding program beneficiaries, received training not just in baking, but in business management, bookkeeping, and customer service. They were organized into a cooperative, with each woman having an equal share and equal voice.
"At first, we were terrified," Hawa admits with a laugh. "We were used to receiving help, not running a business. But the Babul Keyer USA team believed in us even when we didn't believe in ourselves."
The bakery now supplies fresh bread to the Ababa Bekela feeding camp, reducing food costs and ensuring beneficiaries receive fresh, nutritious bread daily. They also sell to neighbors and local shops, generating income that supports their families.
"I no longer come to the feeding program for meals," Hawa says proudly. "I come to deliver bread. My children are well-fed, in school, and healthy. I have savings in the bank. I am no longer a beneficiary – I am a business owner."
The bakery's success has inspired Babul Keyer USA to expand the women's enterprise program. Additional machines have been donated – sewing machines, shoe-making equipment, washing machines – and more women are being trained to start their own businesses.
"When you empower a woman, you empower a whole community," Hawa reflects. "Look at us – five women who had nothing, now running a business, employing others, and contributing to our community. This is the power of giving people tools, not just handouts."
