On October 15th, as we mark the International Day of Rural Women, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and leadership of women in rural communities. In Ethiopia, where women often face limited access to education, financial services, and leadership roles, programs like Digital Green’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are changing lives. These SHGs are more than just savings and loans—they are lifelines that offer women the chance to build confidence, leadership skills, and strong support networks that ripple across entire communities.

Digital Green has organized over 300 SHGs, empowering more than 7,600 women in Ethiopia. These women have collectively saved 19 million birr, and with the support of 8.3 million birr in capital funding, they’ve accessed loans to grow businesses, support their families, and invest in their futures. But beyond the numbers, it’s the personal stories of women like Belaynesh, Netsanet, and Gabite that truly showcase the impact of these groups.