Just like a year ago, the PROJECT-E Team Europe gathered in mid-January for the first strategy weekend of 2019 in the windy and rough harbour city of Hamburg to evaluate the developments of the last few months and to work out concrete plans for the future together!
On the first Team Thursday of the year, we want to introduce you to Philip, a member of our Fundraising team.
Working in the field of women empowerment in Ethiopia inevitably comes with seeing women being physically and mentally oppressed, living in poor conditions, and not getting the opportunity to empower themselves. PROJECT-E (PE) tries to give women with such backgrounds a chance to start a new life by helping them grow, as well as to […]
The first-year housekeeping students gathered excitedly outside the building, eagerly awaiting to start their first day of classes. After an insightful and busy first week at PROJECT-E, I was nervous to start my lesson plans. Would the students be willing to speak to me in English? Would cultural differences be stressful, amusing, or remarkably different between the two groups? As a new instructor, I was very nervous but excited to see how my teaching would go!
In mid-August, the PROJECT-E Team Europe met once again for the traditional Strategy Weekend to plan the upcoming year, reflect on past work and, of course, meet old and new team members.
Not only PROJECT-E but also other organisations, initiatives and individuals aim to empower young women who come from poor and difficult backgrounds in Addis Ababa. Yarid, 39 years old, is one of those: He founded a women’s football team three years ago combining his passion for football and the aim to support his society.
30 students began with the short-term programme at the PROJECT-E Hospitality Institute. This new programme aims at women who already got a family and have to take responsibility in their life while seeking change and further education. PROJECT-E is financing the tuition fee, equipment, breakfast, and examination fee to become a regular worker in one of Addis Ababas middle-class hotels!
For PROJECT-E’s first year students it has been an exciting end to their academic year as they embarked on their internships at some of Addis Ababa’s most prestigious hotels in April and May 2018. This was always going to be met with a little bit of nervousness trepidation by the students as it was their first step into the public hospitality arena – it can be difficult at first to transfer the skills learnt in the classroom into a real scenario where there is extra pressure to perform well in front of potential employers. It was especially challenging for the students as they were no longer comforted by the collective presence of their peers – although they remained roommates, most of the young women had their internships at different hotels in Addis.
On Saturday 28th April, PROJECT-E celebrated an important day. The second batch of Hospitality students at PROJECT-E finished their level 1 & 2 programme and graduated that day. Within the two years that have passed by, it was great to see these young ladies grow and develop into more confident and independent women. As their careers finally begin, they will finally be able to see all their knowledge and hard work be put to use.
Before my departure, I couldn’t wait for the end of my university term because I was supposed to spend my vacation in Addis Ababa for one month to support PROJECT-E. Two weeks before my arrival in Addis, I started to be an active member of the Fundraising Department in Team Europe.
