The name of Fikrete Beyene’s remote mountain village, Debre Zeyt, means Mount Oil. Fittingly, there is a large discount fuel depot in town that sells firewood, kerosene, charcoal and cow dung – materials typically used in the developing world for fuel.

With her Trickle Up grant, Fikrete set up a retail business selling cow dung. Money from the business means that she can meet the challenges of being the sole provider for her nine-person family: “My husband is mentally ill and cannot work outside the home,” she says. “One of our sons has a severe speech problem and two clubbed feet. He needs special care.” She has been able to buy blankets for her family and to extend the thatched roof on her hut. To keep her business going strong, she purchased plastic sheets to shield the dung from rain. She has even stashed away enough money so that she can hire donkey carts on market days.

“I used to do odd jobs for my neighbors,” says Fikrete. “But each morning, I never knew if my family would have food by evening. Now, thanks to Trickle Up, I have a business. I can always afford to buy bread – and even some goat meat and vegetables.”  She hopes to open a dry-goods store in the future.