Following several years of conflict in the Amhara region, Anglican Missions had the opportunity to visit the Bricks for Life (BFL) Programme on the ground for the first time.
From March 6-13th, programmes manager Mark Mitchell visited Lalibela, Ethiopia to monitor the BFL programme and the surrounding communities of Baregota and Shu-meda.
The visit was planned with the following goals in mind:
- Assess the impact of recent agricultural support from Anglican Missions (fertiliser and seed provision)
- Understand community stability following the conflict in the Amhara region
- Meet with Amlaku and support him in restarting Ric’s Soap manufacturing business
Community representatives from Baregota and Shu-meda meeting with Amlaku and Mark in Lalibela. Security restrictions prevented travel to the communities, but the meeting provided important reflections on the impact of the programme and priorities for the next phase.
Agricultural Support through Bricks for Life
Mark had the opportunity to meet with several representatives from Baregota and Shu-meda who shared encouraging stories about the impact of BFL in their communities.
The BFL programme currently supports 188 households through the provision of fertiliser and seeds. It has enabled farmers to continue planting crops during a period of uncertain conflict, market disruption, and mobility restriction.
Representative farmers from both communities reported significant improvements in agriculture, including increased crop yield with the use of fertiliser, increased productivity of otherwise unproductive land, and sufficient yield to sustain families through the hunger season.
Amlaku at the current Ric’s Soap production site in Lalibela. Production has recommenced, raw materials have been procured, and initial orders are already in place as the business moves toward expansion.
Ric’s Soap Manufacturing
One of the most significant developments observed during the visit was the restart of Ric’s Soap Manufacturing business, which is expected to have an extremely positive impact on both the local economy and the sustainability of BFL.
Ric’s Soap business was operational several years ago, but had to shut down due to consistent conflict in the region. This new phase of the business, being run by previous owner Amlaku Yaregal, is prioritising soap, detergent, and hygiene product production. These goods are essential to the local communities, who would otherwise have to import them over long distances, leading to increased cost and limited availability.
Amlaku has already achieved several milestones in the business, including:
- resumed product manufacturing, with the first light load delivered
- a full order book, indicating immediate demand
- 12 staff re-employed, many with prior experience
- key inputs including perfumes, chemicals, and containers procured
- the acquisition of a delivery vehicle secured through a loan
The business benefits from strong local support. The Mayor and town council expressed clear endorsement and are actively supporting the allocation of land for a larger production facility.
While the soap business is privately owned by Amlaku, it plans to contribute USD $500 per month in local support for BFL. This is a huge step for the local community, as it will strengthen local empowerment and ownership of BFL.