Awra Amba, rethink a beautiful world

Spoken: Amharic. Subtitles: English.

In 1972, in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, a young farmer called Zumra Nuru decided that he’d had enough of the way things were in society. He wanted to live in a world where women and men were equal and where traditions and religion did not dictate every aspect of life. Despite not being able to read or write, Zumra followed his dream and set out to create a new society, called Awra Amba in 1972. The community endured many difficulties over several decades, including armed attacks and years of hardship and near starvation. Today, Awra Amba is a thriving, gender-equal democracy and hugely successful social enterprise.  More info: http://www.visitawraamba.com/