Taju is married and father to four children. His family has been displaced due to drought.

“I came here seven years ago because of the drought. We only had half a hectare of land. The soil was all gone away, and only stones remain. We feel so sad when we had to leave. We had to leave all of our family behind, and now we have to try to fit into the new community here.

We rent this house for 1000 Birr per month ($12 AUD).

I worked on the LWF Cash for Work program. I constructed dams and stone bunds. I earn 196 Birr for each cubic metre of dirt I dig. ($2.50 AUD) This takes one day. I used the money I earned to buy chickens and goats.

We have six chickens, and they produce 40 eggs per week that we sell in the market. Each egg sells for 13 Birr ($.07 AUD).

I would like to have more chickens, but first we need more support. I know for children it is good to have more meals per day, but as yet we cannot afford this. My nephew who is four years old became sick and had to be in the hospital for six months. We used our Cash For Work money to help pay for this.

Yesterday there was a campaign for planting trees. [LWF Conservation Project] This work we do helps stop the run-off from extreme rain and prevents erosion.

I would like to be part of an Income-Generation Association. I would like to raise livestock, with more chickens and goats. I just need seed money to get started, and then I can earn income. If we can breed from the goat, it can sell in the market for 5000 Birr ($62) for a two year-old.

My wife manages our chickens and goat. Sometimes she also goes to collect firewood. Now we have bought a fuel efficient stove. Before we only used three stones to make a stove. Our women suffered diseases due to the smoke. Before we need a full armload of wood to do the cooking. Now we need only four sticks.

Due to LWF intervention, our wives can now work beyond the compound. Before they could only work around the house. Now, they are champions of development.