Tizita is a mother of two young daughters. As a little girl, she dreamed big. She loved taking care of herself, and her heart was full of pride in who she was becoming. Confident, graceful, and full of life, she held her head high with the quiet strength of someone who believed in her future.

But life took a painful turn.

Her stepfather began to hurt her not just with his hands, but with his words. The home that once held her dreams became a place of fear. To escape the pain, Tizita left her family behind and traveled to an Arab country to work. She spent six long years there. Though she worked hard, the silence of loneliness and the burden of her past never left her.

When she finally returned to Ethiopia, home did not feel like home. The man she married brought more hurt into her life. His abuse broke her spirit and shattered what remained of her confidence. “I completely forgot about myself and my dreams. I felt like I was losing my mind,” Tizita shared.

By the time she joined Tabitha Reach, she was no longer living with her husband, but his presence continued to haunt her. He came in and out of her life, bringing emotional chaos each time. On many days, Tizita would stay with her mother just to feel safe. She often came to class in tears, the weight of her past heavy on her shoulders.

Her struggles extended beyond her own healing. Her youngest daughter, still very attached to her, came with her to every class. In the beginning, leaving her daughter at daycare was incredibly hard. The little one would cry often, and the first month was especially difficult. But with time, care, and patience, her daughter began to feel at home in daycare. For the first time in a long while, Tizita could sit in class without worry, focusing on something for herself.

At Tabitha Reach, something powerful began to shift.  

She found people who saw her. People who listened without judgment and reminded her of who she truly was. She found sisters who believed in her even when she didn’t believe in herself. And slowly, piece by piece, Tizita began to rebuild.

She learned to make liquid soap, a skill that turned into an opportunity. She began selling her products and earning her own income. The women in her class became her first customers, encouraging her with every purchase and every kind word. Their support became the foundation for her new beginning.

Today, Tizita is growing stronger. She has begun to care for herself again, to smile again, and to dream again. “When I see her now, I see a woman who is stronger, more confident, and full of hope,” says Semeret, the former Tabitha Reach country director in Ethiopia.

One of the main reasons women stay in abusive relationships is economic dependency. At Tabitha Reach, we are working to change that. We walk alongside women like Tizita, helping them become confident, skilled, and financially independent. Our mission is to help women live in peace and become pillars of strength in their homes and communities.

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