In Ethiopia’s Halaba zone, specifically within Woyiradijo Woreda, migration away from home has become a reality for many young people. The region’s agricultural land is increasingly fragmented and degraded, plagued by deep gullies and persistent erosion. As a result, families are facing severe challenges in maintaining their livelihoods. For many young people in Halaba, the prospect of migrating to other countries, such as South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait, has emerged as a viable escape from their dire circumstances.
Many families in the community rely on remittances sent by relatives who have migrated — brothers, sisters and other family members. These funds often amount to a significant sum, improving the family’s financial situation. As a result, migration perpetuates in the community.
Despite the harsh realities, including legal risks, exploitation and deportation, many view migration as the only way forward, rather than investing in education or contributing towards rebuilding their homeland through local employment opportunities.
A young female entrepreneur from Woreda shines as a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of mindset transformation. Senya attempted to migrate three times — to Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Bahrain. During her migration, she faced health and legal challenges, which finally made her take the bold decision to return home and rebuild her life. Returning home is not always easy for migrants; some community members made hurtful remarks, implying that Senya’s return was a result of failure. Motivated to challenge this perception, she decided to pursue a local business venture. With unwavering determination, she chose to forge a livelihood in her own country, not only to improve her own circumstances, but also to inspire others to do the same.
With the support from the Woreda Job Creation and Enterprise Development office, Omo Microfinance, and the Woreda Agriculture and Natural Resource Management office, she decided to set up an irrigation-based vegetable farming business and secured a loan of 100,000 Ethiopian birr ($750). She was allocated land near the Bilate River, where she could start turning her dream into reality.
Senya’s passion for change inspired many in her neighborhood, particularly her two brothers, who had gone through similar experiences and who have joined her in her business venture.
Through hard work and collaboration, Senya and her brothers have turned this opportunity into a thriving enterprise. Today, they are earning a net revenue of over 100,000 ETB ($750) per harvest and have built assets worth more than one million ETB. They have also created job opportunities for nine young people. Their success has attracted even further recognition and support from Zone and Woreda stakeholders. Today, they are role models for other young people in the community, showcasing that sustainable livelihoods can be built at home — even in the face of challenging circumstances.
Senya’s decision to return to and invest in her community has not only changed her life, but also reshaped the narrative of other young people who had lost hope due to land degradation and unemployment. Her journey demonstrates that local opportunities, when combined with determination, teamwork and adequate support, can lead to sustainable livelihoods and community restoration. Her story serves as a powerful call to action for Halaba’s young people to rediscover the potential within their surroundings. Senya’s story motivates others to identify business opportunities in rural Halaba that can contribute, both directly or indirectly, to sustainable land management.
Senya’s entrpreneurial ambitions were supported through the ‘Local-level land degradation assessment towards sustainable land management for improved livelihood in the Ethiopian Rift Valley’ (SMILE) project, implemented by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen (UK) and Hawassa University (Ethiopia).
As a guest speaker in one of the SMILE project’s rural job creation trainings, Senya shared her story, inspiring the participating youth to explore local opportunities. With the support of SMILE over 120 young people are empowered to pursue their chosen business ideas in agriculture and natural resources management, and are guided in establishing their livelihoods while protecting the environment.
The support to Senya’s enterprise is part of the ‘Local-Level Land Degradation Assessment Towards Sustainable Land Management for Improved Livelihood in the Ethiopian Rift Valley’ (SMILE) project, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through its Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia (REDAA) project.
