Despite these efforts, she earned less than £2 for three days of back-breaking work.

Farm Africa is helping communities living in the Bale region to find the best ways to earn a living from the abundant natural resources in the forest, while protecting the trees within it.

Eucalyptus oil

We worked with community members and local government officials to identify the most abundant forest resources and the best markets for them. One opportunity was for eucalyptus oil, which is in demand at local markets and further afield in Addis Ababa, and eucalyptus grows abundantly around the forest.

We have set up a collection, processing and learning centre on the edge of Goba town where products such as eucalyptus leaves and honey are processed for sale. It is also used as a training centre for communities who collect and transport the raw materials to sell for processing.

Prosperous future

Shure now spends just four hours each day collecting eucalyptus leaves and transporting them to the pressing plant by donkey, where they are distilled into oil. This not only means that she can spend more time caring for her family, but she also earns around £2.50 a day.

This may not sound like much but having quadrupled her income she can now afford the books and uniforms her children need to attend school. She knows that a good education is the key to a prosperous future free from hunger for her children.