PEOPLE
THE BEST PRODUCT IN OUR CATALOGUE: THE FUTURE
For many people, working at Yegof is not simply about earning a salary; it means being part of a project that offers opportunities and personal growth, wellbeing to families, regional development, and social harmony. And perhaps even something more: proof that calm comes after the storm.
Read more
From operators to technicians and managers, the workforce is entirely Ethiopian. This is no small detail: there are no imported roles, even at the highest levels. Supervisors and team leaders have completed training in Italy, working closely alongside Italian colleagues in an environment of mutual respect. The specialised training programmes are intensive and open even to those starting out in the textile sector from scratch. It is not uncommon to see people developing exceptional skills in a short period. Day by day, we have seen a cohesive, competent, knowledgeable, and extraordinarily motivated team take shape.
The guiding principle behind all training activities is autonomy. Staff have access to a wide range of hard and soft skills, enabling them to progressively take on greater responsibility, move beyond the need for instructors, and develop an independent outlook. At Yegof, we are not looking for carbon-copy employees, but for individuals ready to step up, embrace innovation, and rise to challenges. Ready to make mistakes and learn from them to do better the next time around.
Making the workplace attractive involves taking care of people’s mental and physical wellbeing. Here in Kombolcha, we have developed a constellation of small projects that together make a real difference: a canteen with a menu tailored to the demands of the work; a changing room with generous, well-equipped shower and laundry facilities; a medical centre that is almost a small hospital, with Italian diagnostic equipment and Italian-trained medical staff also available to workers’ families; an employee football team; and a calendar of social activities for leisure time.
From operators to technicians and managers, the workforce is entirely Ethiopian. This is no small detail: there are no imported roles, even at the highest levels. Supervisors and team leaders have completed training in Italy, working closely alongside Italian colleagues in an environment of mutual respect. The specialised training programmes are intensive and open even to those starting out in the textile sector from scratch. It is not uncommon to see people developing exceptional skills in a short period. Day by day, we have seen a cohesive, competent, knowledgeable, and extraordinarily motivated team take shape.
The guiding principle behind all training activities is autonomy. Staff have access to a wide range of hard and soft skills, enabling them to progressively take on greater responsibility, move beyond the need for instructors, and develop an independent outlook. At Yegof, we are not looking for carbon-copy employees, but for individuals ready to step up, embrace innovation, and rise to challenges. Ready to make mistakes and learn from them to do better the next time around.
Making the workplace attractive involves taking care of people’s mental and physical wellbeing. Here in Kombolcha, we have developed a constellation of small projects that together make a real difference: a canteen with a menu tailored to the demands of the work; a changing room with generous, well-equipped shower and laundry facilities; a medical centre that is almost a small hospital, with Italian diagnostic equipment and Italian-trained medical staff also available to workers’ families; an employee football team; and a calendar of social activities for leisure time.
COMMUNITY
WHEN INDUSTRY BENEFITS THE LAND BESTSELLERS
Two and a half centuries of industrial history have taught us that there is still much work to be done in fostering meaningful dialogue between factory and territory, between business and society, beyond fine words and good intentions. We began this work in Italy, and we continue it in Ethiopia with even greater determination.
Read more
Experience shows that when values take shape, their long-term resilience depends on participation and sharing. The communities and local area surrounding the Yegof site, while respecting their differing roles and objectives, must be able to engage in open discussion around problems and identify a shared path forward. In this sense, even small projects sometimes even tiny in comparison to the scale of the overall economy—can play a vital role.
In some cases, these initiatives arise spontaneously, and Yegof’s merit lies simply in not standing in the way of positive outcomes. For example, when one of Yegof’s wells brought clean water to an entire village, or when one of the water reservoirs was used by farmers to irrigate their fields.
In other cases, the company has taken a deliberate role, such as providing free educational materials to local nursery and primary school children, or funding the E4IMPACT Foundation, an Italian non-profit organisation active in 18 African countries, offering entrepreneurial training and business accelerator programmes. For years, this organisation has supported and enabled win-win partnerships between Italian and Ethiopian enterprises, with a focus on sustainable development.