In Ethiopia’s Arsi Zone, two remarkable religious leaders Sheikh Jemal Dhaddacha and Qes Sharow Shimalis have become catalysts for social change by harmonizing faith with health education. Partnering with the Siiqqee Women’s Development Association, they challenged deep-rooted misconceptions to promote family planning (FP) and end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Key Impact Highlights:

• 300+ community members engaged in a groundbreaking community conference fostering interfaith support for FP and FGM abandonment.
• Full endorsement from mosque and Orthodox Church leaders now actively advocating for family health and women’s rights.
• A significant shift in community attitudes, with growing acceptance of FP and a decline in harmful practices reported by local health workers.
• Early evidence indicates a reduction in Gender-Based Violence (GBV), linked to increased awareness and community dialogue.

This initiative’s faith-grounded, community-led approach not only improves women’s and children’s health but also strengthens social cohesion and economic resilience. For donors and partners, it represents a scalable, proven model that embeds lasting change within cultural and spiritual frameworks maximizing both impact and sustainability. By investing in trusted local leadership, CholeWoreda is creating safer, healthier futures driven by knowledge, compassion, and faith.