ZemZem is a loving mother of three children: two 16-year-old boys and an 11-year-old daughter. All of her children are HIV-negative. Before joining the program, ZemZem was unemployed and relied on financial support from her mosque to survive. Occasionally, she sold coffee, but it was not enough to sustain her family.

Today, ZemZem runs a successful business making and selling French fries, chips, and biscuits. Her savings have grown to 13,000 birr, and she uses part of her earnings to care for her elderly mother in the rural areas, often traveling to visit and provide medication.

ZemZem shared that the nutrition and money-saving lessons were the most impactful parts of the program. She now rents her home from the government and feels immense gratitude for the program’s support. Although she is thriving, ZemZem is deeply concerned about her mother’s well-being and hopes to find ways to provide even more help.