Brewing Hope: Mulunesh’s Journey of Resilience and Recognition

Mulunesh Chekol’s journey is a powerful example of resilience and transformation. At 30 years old, this single mother of two overcame severe hardship to build a new life of stability, confidence, and hope.

After her husband abandoned the family during a time of crisis, Mulunesh was left to raise her children alone. Living in Kore, near Addis Ababa’s largest trash dump (Koshe), she endured extremely difficult conditions in a temporary shelter made of wood and mud, without access to water or electricity.

Her income came from small-scale cabbage selling, barely enough to provide milk for her youngest child. Alongside financial struggles, she faced anxiety and emotional distress, often relying on neighbors for food and shelter. Mulunesh’s breakthrough began with support from Hope for Korah (HFK), which connected her to vocational training opportunities. She pursued her passion for coffee and enrolled in barista training at the Ethiopian Coffee Training Center (CTC).

Mulunesh Chekol’s transformation is deeply connected to the institutional journey of Ethiopia’s CTC. The center was established in 2021 under a UNIDO-led coffee project with funding support from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), in partnership with the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority. The CTC was designed to modernize Ethiopia’s coffee value chain and make it more inclusive. Today, the center continues to thrive under UNIDO’s Advancing Climate-Resilience and Transformation in African Coffee (ACT) program, which strengthens climate resilience, gender inclusion, and innovation.

UNIDO, in collaboration with the ECTA, marked the first International Day of Women in Industry (IDWI) on 21 April 2026. The event brought together 118 participants—including Ministers, Ambassadors, government leaders, UN agency heads, donors, partners, private sector representatives, associations, and youth—highlighting Ethiopia’s commitment to placing women at the center of industrial transformation.

UNIDO’s Gender Division played a leading role in the first IDWI by coordinating global observances and policy dialogues across fifty-eight countries to highlight women’s leadership in industrial development. In Ethiopia, the commemoration was driven by UNIDO’s ACT program, which placed coffee at the center of the celebration to highlight women’s vital role in sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness across the value chain.

Mulunesh’s talent shone during Ethiopia’s first IDWI with the theme “Women Shaping the Future of Industry”. She competed in the first-ever women barista competition at the CTC and won first place. Her achievement was recognized internationally when she received a certificate from H.E. Jozef Síkela, European Union Commissioner for International Partnerships, during his visit to the center.

The women barista competition at the CTC gave young women the space to innovate and present new signature coffee creations. Mulunesh Chekol prepared her own innovative cup, crafting a unique signature beverage that she proudly served to the judges and participants of the IDWI. 

Today, Mulunesh works as a barista, earning a stable monthly income of 15,000 Birr (roughly USD 100). This job has given her financial independence, professional growth, and the ability to cover essential expenses such as rent, food, transportation, and childcare. Her living conditions have improved, she provides better nutrition for her children, and she has developed a saving habit. Her long-term goal is to gain experience and eventually open her own coffee shop.