The Vontobel Foundation is supporting the association GreenLamp by financing scholarships for 20 midwives to complete a four-year bachelor's degree program between 2024 and 2027. After their training, these women, who come from poor rural regions, will be able to earn a sustainable income.
Since 2012, the non-profit Swiss association GreenLamp has been funding and supporting community-based projects in Ethiopia that improve access to healthcare and education for women and girls.
The organization follows a sustainable, systemic approach and bases its work on three pillars:
- LEARN: Training midwives from poor rural regions
- LIGHT: Providing solar-based light and power in health centers
- LEAD: Supporting and training women to take on leadership roles
The goal is to empower women and girls and reduce the high maternal and infant mortality rates in remote areas of rural Ethiopia.
Training as a midwife enables young women to gain professional qualifications as well as financial independence. Through their work and commitment to the entire population, they serve as role models in the communities they live in.
After completing their studies, the midwives will return to their home regions and work for four years in a rural health center. There, they will care for expectant women and their children before, during, and after childbirth, and give information sessions on topics such as family planning, nutrition, hygiene, and education. They will also raise awareness about harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation.
"I am proud to support these intelligent, dedicated, and courageous young women. Based on the data we collect, each of our trained midwives assists an average of 380 births per year."
Joana Boyd, President, GreenLamp
"This professional qualification of midwives secures their own income and breaks the cycle of intergenerational poverty."
Dr. Peter Maurer, Board Member, Vontobel Foundation