Yeshi Belete never thought of herself as an entrepreneur until she started working as a Nutrition Sales Agent. As a mother of two daughters, she was motivated to improve childhood nutrition in her community while earning an income to help raise her own young family. "My motivation started during the nutrition marketing training. I liked the objective of the intervention on reducing the stunting of children and providing service for community members. In addition, the project provided startup capital for me to able to start the business," said Yeshi.

Once iDE provided her with startup capital and worked with her to strengthen her business skills, she was on her way. Malnutrition is widespread in her area of Ethiopia and young mothers need more education on how to prepare nutritious foods. That’s where Yeshi comes in. In addition to handing out educational materials and hosting community events, she makes and sells a nutrient-dense product called mitin, a flour blend of 13 different cereals and pulses. Her customers can prepare it at home as a porridge or a drink with the addition of warm water. As understanding and awareness about the importance of balanced nutrition have increased in the community, so too have Yeshi’s sales of mitin.

Thanks to her successful business venture, Yeshi recently added corrugated sheet metal to her house, and purchased a TV. But her impact goes beyond her personal gains. Yeshi's dedication to improving childhood nutrition has enhanced the overall health of her community, as more families have access to a diverse and nutritious diet.