Partnering for change: Dorcas and EGC’s collaborative impact on older people in Ethiopia

Dorcas supports older people through our Community Safety Net (CSN) approach. This involves mobilising different actors and organisations so that everyone is involved. Only by working together can we provide the right support to ensure older people can live with dignity and flourish. In our CSN report, we found that involving churches as natural allies is one of the best practices in this approach. 

One such partner is the Ethiopian Guenet Church (EGC) in Bishoftu. Dorcas Ethiopia runs a project in Bishoftu that supports around 150 older people, with the EGC playing a key role. The majority of participants in the project are women over the age of 60, representing up to 75 per cent. Most of them are widows. After losing their husbands, Ethiopian women often face considerable challenges, as many have no formal education and were financially dependent on their spouses. They are left to manage on their own, often with a small pension and little or no other income. 

Dorcas and the EGC support these project participants in a number of ways. They receive practical assistance such as food, clothing, blankets and medical check-ups. Bedridden older people receive regular visits and support in their homes. Their clothes are washed and household chores are done. This is done by volunteers from the EGC, but young people are also involved to encourage contact between the generations. 

As well as practical support, the project offers a range of activities for older people. There are weekly coffee ceremonies and holidays are celebrated together. On special occasions such as Christmas and Easter, the older people receive something extra: a chicken, eggs and flour to make injera (a traditional dish).  

Dorcas and the EGC also encourage the community to care for their older people and organise training sessions to empower older people to advocate for themselves.  

We also invest in partnerships, including with the government, to support older people in securing safe, private housing, to advocate for their rights and to raise awareness on special occasions such as the international day of older persons.   

02 October 2024