Frealem Shibabaw - The Woman Who Changes Problems to Opportunities

Founder and General Manager, Bahirdar Academy; Director, Ethiopian School Meal Initiative
Frealem is one of the founders and past President of the Amhara Region Association of Women Entrepreneurs that started in 2000 with only 60 members but has grown to more than 3,000 with four regional offices creating job opportunities for many. During her tenure as a President, Frealem strived to ensure the Association’s sustainability by developing strong leaders amongst its members.
Frealem strongly believes in community owned and managed programs for that ensure sustainability. She campaigned to bring the government’s attention to this national program by creating “Model School Milk Projects” in two cities: Sebeta and Bahir Dar. The programs including daily rations of milk and bread (baked by the mothers themselves) to children up to kindergarten.
The project runs by the school community in collaboration with the city administrations and is considered a model. Frealem, therefore, proposed this successful model to be considered as countrywide program to the Prime Minister’s Office which was accepted as “Ethiopian School Meal Program Initiative”. A decision was made to incorporate this Initiative in the 2nd phase of the Growth and Transformation Plan.
awibethiopia.org/