Blood:Water is incredibly proud of our relationship with Drop of Water, so we wanted to take the time to highlight a very special community leader.

Mama Likeyelesh is an incredible woman who inspires us to continue to do what we do, so we hope you enjoy her story.

Despite her communal involvement in May Genet, Mama Likeyelesh was actually raised in a nearby village. Like many women and girls in rural Ethiopia, she travelled to her current home after her marriage was arranged at the young age of 15. Today, she is a mother of five and grandmother and has become a role model for young women and girls in the village. 

Mama Likeyelesh leads Monoma’s WASH Committee and is the head of her local water point. She loves performing traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremonies and spending time with her friends. Despite her age, she continues to participate in tons of activities around the village and unite community members.

Unsurprisingly, her name means “limitless” in Amharic.

We are so grateful for people like Mama Likeyelesh who selflessly submit all of themselves to help others without expecting anything in return. Because of people like her, our partners can continue to foster change in ways that would be unimaginable to our western eyes. Thank God for these hidden heroes!