Golden Future for Golden Hands

U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Patricia Haslach poses with a few of the thousands of community members who attended the Kembata annual celebration in Durame.

A girl from the Durame town kisses U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Patricia Haslach at the Kembata annual celebration that was attended by thousands of community members.

U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Patricia Haslach looks at some of the pottery on display at the Kembata annual event

An artisan from the Durame town displays one of the beautiful pieces made by her “Golden Hands.” Historically, this community of people has been discriminated against and denied access to education. They had limited economic opportunities aside from selling pottery within their communities. Today, with assistance from USAID, through KMG, things are slowly changing.

An artisan from the Durame town displays coffee pots made with her “Golden Hands.” Historically, this community of people has been discriminated against and denied access to education. They had limited economic opportunities aside from selling pottery within their communities. Today, with assistance from USAID, through KMG, things are slowly changing.

Following her game at the Kembata annual event, one of the players receives a soccer ball from U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Patricia Haslach. The teams consisted of uncut girls (girls who have not undergone female genital mutilation) in the Durame area. KMG started its annual event to celebrate uncut girls in 2004 to celebrate and honor the daring young pioneers—the uncut girls—who stood against the tides.

Pottery on display at the Kembata annual event. The pottery is made by local artisans, “Golden Hands.” With training and assistance from USAID, through KMG Ethiopia, the artisans learned how to design market oriented pottery products and how to add quality and diversity.

(left to right) Belgian Ambassador to Ethiopia Didier Nagant, former Finnish Ambassador to Ethiopia Kirsti Aarnio, KMG Founder Bogeletch Gebre, U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Patricia Haslach, and former EU Delegation Ambassador Timothy Clark meet at the KMG compound in Durame at the start of the annual celebration.

Following their game, the girls from the competing teams posed with U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Patricia Haslach. The players were uncut girls (girls who have not undergone female genital mutilation) from the Durame area

U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Patricia Haslach gives soccer balls and books about soccer to players on the competing teams. The teams consisted of uncut girls (girls who have not undergone female genital mutilation) in the Durame area.

U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Patricia Haslach gives a keynote address at the Kembata annual festival attended by thousands of community members.

U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Patricia Haslach gives a keynote address at the Kembata annual festival as KMG Founder Bogeletch Gebre stands by to interpret into the local language.

An artisan from the Durame town carries on her back two heavy pottery pieces made with her “Golden Hands.” Historically, this community of people has been discriminated against and denied access to education. They had limited economic opportunities aside from selling pottery within their communities. Today, with assistance from USAID, through KMG, things are slowly changing.

Local girls sing and dance at the start of the Kembata’s annual festival. This year’s festival highlights the efforts by USAID, through KMG, to eliminate gender-based violence and end marginalization of the community.

At the start of the Kembata’s annual festival, girls call out the name of their kebele (community) as they enter the stadium. This year’s festival highlights the efforts by USAID, through KMG, to eliminate gender-based violence and end marginalization of the community.

Two of the local girls at the Kembata annual festival in Durame. The focus for this year’s festival is to highlight the efforts by USAID, through KMG, to eliminate gender-based violence and end marginalization of the community

Local girls sing and dance at the start of the Kembata’s annual festival. This year’s festival highlights the efforts by USAID, through KMG, to eliminate gender-based violence and end marginalization of the community.

Local girls dance at the start of the Kembata’s annual festival. The focus for this year’s festival is to highlight the efforts by USAID, through KMG, to eliminate gender-based violence and end marginalization of the community. The motto on the shirt emphasizes the importance of treating everyone equally.

Women sort grain in front of their traditional house (tukul) nestled into the landscape in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples region of Ethiopia. Like many houses in this region, the top half of the outer walls are hand painted by the owners with their own unique designs.