In 2000, the Ethiopian Government granted 21 hectares of picturesque rural land to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital for the development of a ‘self help’ village which the Hospital has named Desta Mender or "Village of Joy".
Located 17km from Addis Ababa, Desta Mender is now a flourishing, sustainable, village community providing holistic care for around fifty long term residents. Women awaiting surgery at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital are also accommodated at the village.
Facilities
- Ten self contained tukuls (cottages) – accommodation for up to 100 women
- Cooking tukul
- Meeting tukul
- Physiotherapy unit
- Teaching centre
- Craft shop
- "Juniper Café"
- Dairy
- Chicken coup
- Market garden
- Large dam
Training
The Desta Mender residents all have the opportunity to be trained in income generating activities such as:
- Dairying (making milk, butter and local cheese)
- Poultry Care (egg production)
- Agriculture (growing fruit and vegetables)
- Farming (animal husbandry and livestock care)
- Hospitality (food preparation, cooking, catering and customer service)
- Sewing (knitting, dress making, embroidery)
- Basic nursing (once trained they are employed as nurse–aides or carers at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital or its regional centres).
Education
As many of these women have had little or no education they are offered schooling in:
- Literacy
- Numeracy
- Health and hygiene
- Micro business (e.g. selling their produce at the local markets)
Positive Outcomes
Excellent on–site management and a safe, caring, stimulating environment gives the Desta Mender residents:
- emotional and psychological support
- greater confidence and self esteem
- the skills to move on to more independent living and employment
- the potential for future financial independence
- a brighter outlook for the future
Growth
Due to the development of the five regional Hamlin Fistula Centres some of the women who suffer the long term effects of obstetric fistula are able to move back to their homes and receive ongoing medical care from one of the outreach centres.
Additionally some women have established small, successful businesses that have enabled them to move out of Desta Mender to nearby towns and return to receive medical care or visit friends.
The Juniper Café
The Juniper Café was built with funds provided by Soroptimist International. This new initiative, opened in 2009, provides training for some of the Desta Mender residents in cooking, service and business management skills. The initial training and café set up was organised by Rae Newman of Canberra who, with her husband Winston, spent a year living in Addis Ababa teaching the young women how to cook food to a commercial standard. This involved showing them how to follow a recipe, measure ingredients and cook food at the required temperature and duration.
The café is open to the public and provides catering for groups visiting the village of Desta Mender.
