Gelaye is a widowed mother of two, living in Ethiopia. A decade ago when her husband died, the loneliness and hardship was crushing. Since her husband was the main breadwinner, she struggled to take care of her two young children, Bethlehem, then 7, and Biniyam, then 5.

“It was difficult to start life and support children alone,” she told us.

Ten years later, she is a successful shopkeeper, and her daughter Bethlehem is confidently standing by her side. When we caught up with them, Gelaye and Bethlehem were busily tending to customers, providing cool drinks and snacks for people on the go. It’s a dream come true for Gelaye, but one she knows she could not have achieved alone.

A few years ago, when Gelaye was struggling with loneliness, she was invited to a community meeting. The facilitator made a suggestion that piqued Gelaye’s interest: “She told us the importance of coming together to discuss our own issues and solving them together instead of struggling alone.”

Soon, Gelaye and the other women had formed a REFLECT group called Welin, in which they supported each other in all aspects of life. REFLECT groups give space for community members to decide their own priorities on food security, livelihoods, education and more. Members can also pool their savings and access credit. Joining the group was the start of a major transformation for Gelaye.