The Superwoman Who Opened My Eyes

Today I just wanted to introduce you to this Ethiopian superwoman! The woman who opened my eyes to the struggles that women like her face.

Her name is Tadelech, we call her Tadu (it means “Lucky” in one of the Ethiopian native languages). She is my Aunt. She is a mother of four who fights every day to create a better future for her kids. She fights with her disadvantages, she fights with the stereotypes, with the lack of opportunity, with the shortage of resources...she fights! And she never gives up, even if she gets discouraged at times, she gets right back up whenever she sees a ray of hope. She is the superwoman who opened my eyes and became the reason this all started.

But as I told you she is a fighter! So she kept fighting. Now she has a bigger manufacturing space, and more than 5 people working with her. And she is still fighting!

And I know there are billions of Tadus who are fighting with their disadvantages, lack of opportunity and stereotypes. Women who are fighting to give their kids the kind of future that they didn’t get to have.

And That is the reason Skadmas started and that is why it will continue to exist! Read the whole story: here

Update: I can’t believe I am writing this, but we lost Tadu on 12/23/2021 after fighting so hard against liver cancer for more than six unimaginably painful months. 

I don’t think I can say this to many people in this world, but Tadu was a literal angle; She was selfless. She opened up her tiny house for anyone who needed a place(Family or not) and let us stay for as long as we needed to without making us feel like we were a burden. She refused to lay off her workers as her business struggled due to covid. She fought to work while fighting cancer and kept her business open till the last minute of her life, again just so she could keep as many people employed as possible. Shortly, she lived her whole life for others; she never had anything that was truly hers because she shared everything she had with others.

She was a hard-working mom who was determined to create a better life for her kids, a kind of life she didn’t get the chance to have. And she was very determined and sure that she was going to make it happen, against all odds. She was always optimistic regardless of the barriers and the challenges that came her way. 

Skadmas will always be part of her legacy! And I said “Part” because she has many of them. Tadu has inspired everyone she met, and I believe she has a legacy in each and every one of those lives. She inspired people with her hard work, kindness, smile, optimism, selfnesses, and more. 

I feel like I lost a piece of me with her and will always have that with me. However, I am dedicated more than ever to working hard to help Artisans like her who are selflessly fighting against their barriers to create a better life for their kids and communities.

I am at peace knowing that she has done everything she needed to do, impacted more lives, and helped a lot more people than most people with a longer life could. And that she is at a better place with Jesus. 

Note: Part of this Legacy too is her husband Tadesse, who we also lost in August 2021 due to covid-19. He was just as kind and selfless as she was. He supported her in everything she did and stood by her every step of the way. Though a lot quieter and less bubbly than her, he was always a warm and welcoming person. He loved people and shared everything he got with everyone who needed it. 

I guess good people don’t really last long!