Starting a social enterprise: In December 2018, we spent an inspiring week with the boys from Out of Order Design teaching BEZA members how to make and sell beeswax candles to generate a modest income for themselves and for the BEZA hardship fund, which provides financial assistance to BEZA members in crisis.

​

The beeswax is sourced locally and is the by-product of Tej, a honey wine made specifically in Ethiopia. The beeswax is then filtered and cleaned, and from this various types of beautiful candles are created. The member trained very hard for three days and worked together magnificently to make our Beza Foundation shop come to life in Lalibela!

​

In addition to income generation opportunities for BEZA members, the shop acts as an important outlet and connection to the tourist market in Lalibela while also providing a touch point to the local community to show that the BEZA members are able to live positively and productively with HIV/AIDS.

​

This project is run in partnership with Stichting Lalibela, who support people living with disabilities in Lalibela. With their support we were able to build a new candle making workshop space in the town centre and fund the training course.

​

​