Awra Amba

History

Awra Amba was founded in 1980 by Zumra Nuru. After the fall of the Derg and the transition from the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the community returned to their settlement in 1993.

Description

The fact that its members work together, are diligent, disciplined and self-confident makes the Awra Amba community distinct from other Amhara communities. Women have equal rights as men and there is no distinction in divisions of labor between men and women. All people in the community have no religion as distinct from most communities in Ethiopia. They believe in hard work and being good to people. They keep their houses and their surrounding clean. Theft is seen as very obscene.

The community is ostracized, as it does not belong to either of the two primary religious groupings — Christianity or Islam. Members of the Awra Amba community therefore were not given agricultural land to cultivate, but instead were pushed into the most infertile and malaria infested corner of the district. As they cannot live on farm activities, they have diversified into the weaving business, using both traditional and modern weaving machines. In addition, using three grinding mills provided by the Regional Micro and Small Scale Enterprise Development Agency, they offer milling service to neighbouring farmers. The village hopes to earn more money in order to build potable water and sewage systems, pave the road, and create an education fund for the children.

The village is unique not only for its attitudes toward gender, religion, and education, but for the social security it provides its members in need. There are formal committees to provide services which include: education, to receive guests, to take care of patients, the elderly and children, and community health. They have established a literacy campaign for adults, a library, and a preschool. Despite living in a culture which practices early marriage, the people of Awra Amba have decided girls should marry only after reaching the age of 18, and boys at or above 22.

The village's success has made it a subject of numerous studies. "So many Christian and Muslim leaders from all over [Ethiopia's regions] and some from outside have visited the village because it is very famous in its endeavor to eliminate poverty," says Mulgeta Wuletaw, a regional government administrator and member of parliament. Another supporter is Mohammed Mussa, a rural development consultant who prepared a case study on the village for the World Bank. "This is an extraordinary initiative within a traditional and conservative community," he says. "It's a good example for other Ethiopian communities — and even beyond Ethiopia — because of its gender equality, its work ethic, and its social security system."

References

References

1. ሔለን ተስፋዬ. (2022-06-29). "ግማሽ ምዕት ዓመት ያስቆጠረው የአውራ አምባ ማኅበረሰብና እሴቶቹ". Ethiopian Reporter.
2. Duncan, Don. (12 Dec 2013). "This Ethiopian village has gained wealth, but has bred hostility". [[Public Radio International.
3. "» the Ethiopian Utopia".
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5. Orenstein, Natalie. (9 Jul 2010). "Ethiopian egalitarian community thrives". Nazret.
6. Mohammed Mussa, "Case 5: Amhara Region: Community Self-Help in Awra Amba", in [http://www.intrac.org/docs.php/2134/Annex%20of%20WB%20Case%20Studies.pdf ''Annex 1: Annex to Study on Effective Empowerment of Citizens in Ethiopia: Case Studies''] {{webarchive. link. (January 6, 2009 , International NGO Training and Research Centre website (accessed 23 April 2009))
7. (14 September 2016). "The Commune in Ethiopia Where Feminism is the Law".
8. Don Duncan. (15 October 2013). "Ethiopian utopian village goes against the grain". [[Deutsche Welle]].
9. [http://www.bds-ethiopia.net/1-documents/booklets/10-success-stories.doc "Ten Success Stories on Business Development Services"] {{webarchive. link. (September 28, 2007 (Ethiopian Business Development Services Network))
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