Category: field team

Our Board Chair and Seldom Seen Photos

One of Roots Ethiopia’s core values lies in our belief that the most sustainable and long lasting change comes from Ethiopians helping Ethiopians. We trust in local ‘tibeb'(wisdom). This value also means you won’t often see our US based Board of Directors in images since we focus on local stories told in authentic ways by local women, teachers, children, elders, and neighbors.
Continue reading “Our Board Chair and Seldom Seen Photos”

Corporate Social Responsibility and the Magic of Partnership

Each day, we are blown away by the impact one individual can make when they support a cause. That impact grows exponentially when a whole team of individuals work together to make change.

We were recently introduced to Royal Robbins, an eco-friendly outdoor and travel apparel company. The folks at Royal Robbins have made gear that can travel the world because that’s what their customers do. They #goeverywhere and they believe in the power of the global community.

Our amazing field staff go everywhere too. They travel across multiple microclimates and encounter rain, heat, and cold in a single day. And yet, they had no access to gear that could withstand all of those conditions.

We realized that we had a problem, and that Royal Robbins was the solution.

Royal Robbins’ customers rave about their Convertible Jacket. It’s breathable. It’s durable. It can adapt to just about any climate – including the remote SNNPR region of Ethiopia where our team spends most of their time.

Royal Robbins generously offered to outfit our entire team with their Convertible Jackets. Our field staff in Ethiopia are thrilled to have reliable gear that will allow them to focus on what matters most – their work.

 

So, what is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and how does it relate?  

CSR is a business approach that focuses on not only delivering profits, but on delivering economic, social, and environmental value by supporting charity and non-profit work. And the business community is quickly finding that non-profits aren’t the only ones to gain.

 

When companies support causes they believe in, they can put meaning and action behind brand values. They can engage new audiences and create customer loyalty. Double the Donations reported that 55% of consumers are willing to pay more for products from socially responsible companies and that 93% of the world’s largest 250 companies now publish annual Corporate Social Responsibility reports.

Our partnership with Royal Robbins is proof positive. Their support has made a world of difference to our staff, and, in the process, they’ve earned a new following of Royal Robbins believers that will stand boldly behind their brand and products.

There’s an Ethiopian proverb that we live by, “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.”

We’re truly grateful for Royal Robbins’ support as we work together to make lasting change.

Be A Dream Builder Series: What Gembero Did This Summer (And Why It Matters)

Adventure and imagination are the life source of dreams. New foods, new smells, new landscapes, new voices, new possibilities. Roots Ethiopia’s focus on enriching the hard lives of rural students through education is a core program. And part of our work is showing students the possibilities for where that education could take them. Continue reading “Be A Dream Builder Series: What Gembero Did This Summer (And Why It Matters)”

Setting Students Up for Success in Ethiopia

Exams are often a stressful time for many students around the world, and even more so in countries where getting a quality education is the key to bridging the ever-widening divide of income inequality. Roots Ethiopia is making a difference by hosting and funding after-school tutoring for 8th-grade students preparing for their 8th-grade national exams. Continue reading “Setting Students Up for Success in Ethiopia”