Tamara saw firsthand that many young women in Ethiopia of notable promise had their dreams and hopes stifled, many of whom were trafficked in the commercial sex trade out of desperation and a seeming exhaustion of all other options. The inspirational spark was ignited when Tamara realized that she could reach out to her professional network to assemble a team to plant the seed for a scholastic entity that gives girls an opportunity and fighting chance, and to have the on-the-ground staff be representational to the community in being 99% Ethiopian and 79% female. ​

Guest Blogger: Kieran Taylor

    This month, Studio Samuel’s HIV/AIDS Prevention Course returned for 2021 to help a new class of girls avoid the devastating effects of the disease, an ongoing epidemic in Ethiopia.

    Studio Samuel, a partner of the White Feather Foundation, is a training center based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Through its Training for Tomorrow program, a two-year life skills course, Studio Samuel has helped thousands of young Ethiopian girls born into extreme poverty to reach their full, self-sufficient potential since its inception in 2015. That same year, it introduced the HIV/AIDS Prevention Course to the program upon learning that one of its students, a ten-year-old girl, had become her HIV+ mother’s only caregiver.

    The need for a program like this course in Ethiopia is substantial. The spread of HIV/AIDS remains at epidemic proportions, the effects of which are compounded by a high rate of poverty, disproportionate effects against women, and a broad stigma against the disease. Though proper education, testing and diagnosis are essential to HIV prevention and treatment, the social taboo of discussing it keeps many from getting the treatment they need. Furthermore, many girls forced into caregiver roles are denied their education, often the key to lifting them and their families out of the cycle of poverty. Facing these challenges, Studio Samuel is committed to ensuring that girls enrolled in its programs are well-equipped and empowered to take charge of their health and safety.

    So far, the course has been a terrific success. The first class of 25 girls enrolled have all been certified in HIV awareness; all 25 agreed to be tested for the disease, and all 25 tested negative. Their training will go a long way towards helping them avoid the dangers of HIV, and is an important step in breaking down the social stigma surrounding it.

    An unfortunate setback came in 2019, when a lack of resources forced it to temporarily shut down. A campaign by the White Feather Foundation, however, enabled Studio Samuel to resume the course again this year. Thanks to donors like you, the course has even been able to expand, with 190 girls signed up this year to learn how to protect their and their families’ health.

    Still, though, there is much left to be done. See the list below to learn what kind of difference your donation, however large or small, can make for these girls.

As of March 2020, Coronavirus (COVID-19) had affected and had led to a shutdown in every country including Ethiopia where the government declared its state of emergency in the second week of April 2020. Resulting in its economic shutdown in both high- and low-income communities around the country. At Studio Samuel we decided to take a close look at how this significantly affects the services, operations, and the people working with in the facility. We were able to interview two of our studio Samuel students, as followed:
 
For safety and to protect our girls we kept their name anonymous. Instead, we used Answer 1 and Answer 2. 
 
As we began our interview both of our girls discussed how they are taking precautions during this pandemic by “staying at home, wearing mask at all times when going outside, keeping social distance, and washing hands frequently.”
 
What challenges have you faced during this pandemic?
Answer 1: I couldn’t go to school {nor to Studio Samuel] center due to the pandemic. [I am] helping my mother on her [small] business which is selling tea and coffees. It’s difficult for me to sell and [meet daily goal].
Answer 2: Not being able to go to school and the center [Studio Samuel] for after school activities.
 
What is one thing that Studio Samuel can do better to support your wellbeing during this time?
Answer 1: My mom is not making money as she used to due to the pandemic and we are in need of hygiene kit, school materials and food.
Answer 2: I want Studio Samuel to continue supporting me by supporting us through food, school material’s, and by opening Studio Samuel. 
 
What questions do you have about COVID- 19 or its impact on our organization that you would like answered?
 Answer 1: [Finding ways to] get back to Studio Samuel and continue to do all the activities as we remain social distancing.
Answer 2: My friends and I are sad because we can’t see each other and are spending most of our time at home. I would want to see the center to be open again.
 
 
What is your biggest concern right now? Do you feel like you are having enough opportunities to catch up with your friend and family?
Answer 1: How long the pandemic is going to last and when will I be going back to school and to the center. Will we be able to start our previous lifestyle?  I do not feel like I have enough opportunity to catch up with family and friends.
 
Answer 2: I am very concerned [of] what will happen to me if Studio Samuel stopped supporting me.  No, [the health] case I have, it don’t allow me to hangout freely during the pandemic.
 
List three things that would make you feel safer during this time.
Answer 1: Using hand sanitizer, keeping social distancing, and following the information given by the health workers and government.           
Answer 2: Staying home, keeping social distance, wearing [face] mask.
 
Do you see people in your community taking precautions? Wearing a mask, washing hands, standing 2 meters apart?
Answer 1: Yes, but not everyone is following the government’s protocol, some wear mask only    when they see police or are told to do so by another person.
Answer 2: yes, [for the most part] but some people do and other don’t.
 
What good things have you found or learned during this time?
Answer 1: We don’t know what will happen in our life so do something good for [for those who are] around you.
Answer 2: While staying at home, it’s a perfect time to improve our hobbies.

Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) and The WHO Country Office Ethiopia (WCO) are working closely to report cases and implement from control Measures (WHO Africa, 2020). WHO has collaborated with EPHI to take immediate action and work on identifying contacts of patients who have tested positive or if the patient is a traveler from the time individual entered Ethiopia to the time of diagnosis. 

Individuals who are self-isolating in their homes are highly recommended to have a separate room with good airflow from windows and doors. If there is a lack of space, individuals should maintain at least two meters of physical distance and must cover the mouth and nose with a mask.  During the time of self-isolating, if an individual develops symptoms of COVID-19 or similar symptoms, they are required to report to EPHI or nearby health care facility by telephone. U.S. Embassy, Ethiopia, 2020). If the individual arrived without a negative RT-PCR, they are required to complete The U.S. Embassy Ethiopia announced its quarantine requirements for any incoming travels outside of the country. American citizens arriving at Bole International airport with proof of a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours before arrival and have no signs of symptoms may go home and compete for 14-day mandatory quarantine at their home (U.S. Embassy Ethiopia, 2020). If the individual arrived without a negative RT-PCR, they are required to complete mandatory quarantine by staying at a government-approved hotel which has been reduced from 14 days to 7 days (U.S. Embassy Ethiopia, 2020)

There is still so much to learn about COVID-19. Authorities have taken immediate action to lower the spread of the virus: main streets in the capital of Ethiopia are being sprayed with disinfectant, including banning public gatherings and requiring most employees to work from home. On April 03, 2020, Ethiopia launched a door to door temperature screening campaign to prevent and lower the spread of COVID-19 (Taddesse, 2020). Health workers, volunteers, and about 1200 retired physicians were involved in the screening exercise (Taddesse, 2020).

With Covid-19 cases spiking across Ethiopia, there’s never been a more vital time to ensure our community has access to proper sanitation supplies. In response to this immediate challenge, we’re announcing three new products that will directly benefit those affected.

Here’s how it works:
Caregivers on-site in Africa have been trained how to make a versatile liquid soap that is used to cleanse hands, dishes and clothing. With this skill, they've launched their business and are earning a fair wage by creating, selling and distributing this soap to nearby communities.

​​Simultaneously, we’ve launched three new luxury bar soaps in our store, manufactured in the U.S.

With each purchase of one of these soaps, we’ll purchase one unit of liquid soap from the caregivers on-site to donate to a home in our community in Ethiopia. It’s a one-for-one, win-win offer.

What’s more, the soaps echo the beauty and spirit of Ethiopia reflected in the varieties available: Eucalyptus and Black Charcoal/Lavender, which are creamy and smooth, and Coffee/Goat’s Milk, which is an exfoliant that contains actual coffee grounds. All are made with the finest organic ingredients and shipped from the U.S. The Eucalyptus and Black Charcoal/Lavender are also vegan.
​
To help protect these at-risk communities from the spread of the virus, and treat yourself or a loved one to a luxury gift with doorstep delivery, start your order now. Individual soaps cost $6.50, or buy a bundle of three for $15. Shop today.

This team of caregivers joined forces and began training on how to make a versatile liquid soap that can be used to cleanse hands, dishes and clothing. When this skill is learned, they will officially launch their business through our micro-loan program, earning a fair wage for creating, selling and distributing this in-demand soap to nearby communities.

We thank YOU for making this possible by supporting our recent Covid19-relief campaign - and an exceptional note of gratitude to long time Studio Samuel supporter, GO Campaign, who matched your first $5,000!

​To reach our girls through this pandemic, we must support their caregivers today, ensuring they're safe and will re-open their businesses when this passes.

These women are the small business owners in our micro-loan program and the backbone of our community. They're the mothers, aunts, sisters, neighbors, and caregivers to our students.

They lost their source of income due to the State of Emergency declared in Ethiopia. This was their household's lifeline to food, shelter, and healthcare. If we see loss of life in our community, as so many have in the developed world, we risk facing an orphan crisis.

​We need your help today to keep their households as healthy as possible during the Covid outbreak in Ethiopia.

On Monday, March 16, schools closed temporarily in Ethiopia, as did our training center which was not unexpected. We had already begun preparing our students, their caregivers, and staff for what their new normal may look like as the Coronavirus would inevitably reach Ethiopia.
Staff is now working from home, and all beneficiaries (Training for Tomorrow students, college students + micro-loan recipients) have a line of communication to their assigned staff member.

Before girls were under Stay at Home orders, they were already phoning their staff team leaders, asking how to get involved and help their community.

​With a simple yet powerful punch, and safety measures in place, students created Tesfa signs ('hope' in Amharic). Handmade messages of hope drawn in Ethiopian flag colors are now proudly displayed!
The empathy and proactive measures of these young women in such a time of uncertainty speak volumes for the future impact they'll bring to their communities.