Ethiopia is perhaps a country most well-known for the suffering it has experienced through intense famine and desperate poverty. Amongst these ongoing challenges, missionaries like Maria are bringing communities together to build hope for a better future.

Maria is a Spanish lay missionary from the Community of St Paul. She works and lives with an Ethiopian community in Meki. This very large population is situated in a rural area, and the people of Meki survive by working the land and rearing cattle.

As a result, many women are forced to look overseas for work. But often, this leaves them in vulnerable situations where they suffer abuse and isolation away from home. 

As Director of the Kidist Mariam Centre, Maria works to provide a safe, supportive, and educational environment for vulnerable women, so they no longer have to leave their families and communities to find work.

Maria works with an amazing local team to offer women various different vocational training including food preparation, hairdressing and tailoring.