Education Ethiopia Project #30736

Quality Education for Orphan & Vulnerable Children

by Brave Hearts

Project Report | Jul 20, 2021
A Shining Moment for Lemma!

By Koni Yimer | Managing Director

Lemma with BHE children on his graduation day

It fills all of us at Brave Hearts Ethiopia with immense joy as Lemma begins university. A student with special needs, Lemma graduated high school earlier this year with outstanding grades and a determination to pursue his tertiary education. Lemma is an intelligent young man with cerebral palsy and a difficult past but his efforts have provided him with a shining future!

After joining BHE in 2014, Lemma was provided with holistic care and regular counseling to help him overcome his childhood trauma. His special needs have and continue to be fully catered to, ensuring that they do not provide a barrier to his education.

Brave Hearts also supported Lemma in successfully reuniting him with his family three years ago. Lemma and his father, who was previously unable to take care of him, are both overjoyed to have each other back in their lives. Lemma’s dad now takes care of his needs at home including cooking and supporting Lemma in his mobility both within and outside their home.

Lemma was fortunate enough to attend a private school where he received quality education and thrived in the academically-stimulating and supportive environment. He excelled in high school as a scholarship student. During his schooling, Lemma was awarded prizes for his incredible performance in academic competitions.

Furthermore, Lemma worked hard to overcome the additional challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic. “I spent the pandemic studying and gave full attention to the subjects I struggled with, which helped me achieve the results I wanted in the national exam,” Lemma shared.

His dad beamed with pride as he attended Lemma’s graduation ceremony at his high school. The other Brave Hearts’ children and staff also celebrated with Lemma and took pictures with him in his graduation gown. Lemma’s loving nature and infectious happiness make him an amazing member within the BHE family.

In June, we held an award ceremony at the BHE centre for all of the children who scored outstanding grades in the academic year. Four of our students ranked 1st in their year level and another five were ranked within the top ten in their year. This made us extremely proud to witness. Lemma is an incredible role model for these younger students. His success proves the merits of unrivaled dedication and inspires them to strive to fulfill their full potential.

Lemma started university with a big smile on his first day. “I met new people who have been extremely helpful and friendly. They help me move around the university campus with ease” Lemma stated.

After his first year, Lemma will be able to choose a specific field he wants to study. Lemma aspires to become a software engineer. He has come a long way and all of us at Brave Hearts Ethiopia are unbelievably proud of his journey and achievements. Lemma continues to serve as an example for all of us, as well as a mentor who gives advice to our younger members at BHE. “I am forever grateful for my Brave Hearts family and their continuous support.”

I would like to express our deep gratitude to Dean and the Hanson Family Foundation for their partnership over the last 8 years. Their support has enabled Brave Hearts to focus on empowering orphaned and vulnerable youth like Lemma through quality education.

It has been a difficult year globally and many challenges still await us in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, your support has ensured that our students and communities are fully supported.

I would also like to thank Sharon, Tsedenya, Reg and Pittards UK for their support. I know that Lemma’s achievement will make them very proud. Finally, a heartfelt appreciation to Sharon and George, Lemma’s sponsors, for their commitment, love and support since 2017.

Thank you all and God Bless you!

Lemma's dad helping him with mobility

Lemma's dad cooking them a meal

Lemma and his dad on his graduation day

Lemma on his first day at university

Permalink

Mar 17, 2021
Celebrating Graduating Students in the BHE Program

By Koni Yimer | Managing Director

Tigist's graduation journey

This quarter we celebrate our young women graudates Tigist, Sebie, Faven and Lemma, a young graduate with speical needs, four students in the BHE program that are graduating from university and high school. Three of them took the 12th grade national exam recently and are awaiting their results. Another five students took their 8th grade national exams and all passed at the start of the year.

Tigist is a bright young woman in the BHE program who graduated March 6, 2021 earning her BA degree in Construction Management Engineering. Tigist had a tough journey as she was separated from her dad and lost her mom at a young age. Her aunt supported her with little means of income.

She joined BHE as she was in 12th grade and received holistic support. Tigist is a smart student and benefited from the tutorial sessions, educational, health and psychosocial support at our drop in center. Tigist graduated after completing 5 years of university study. ‘’Without the generous support, my life could have been very different. Thankfully, I now have a bright future.”

Sebie is one of the three youth in our program graduating from 12th grade high school this year. She is a bright attentive and talented young woman who has overcome many hardships in her childhood. After losing both parents Sebie lived with her aunt. There she had many chores which was a burden for her studies.

They lived in a small house in poor condition. The only community toilet in their area was next to their house and would flood often causing Sebie to be repeatedly ill and not be able to attend school. After joining BHE, Sebie was able to receive holistic care.

Through psychosocial support Sebie who was shy became very confident and sociable. Intervention was made so Sebie had less chores at home and was able to focus on her studies. BHE also rebuilt a community latrine near Sebie that improved her health and access to sanitation.

Sebie also has a talent for stage performance and would often confidently lead and perform in events, drama and celebration with other youth in BHE. "I give credit for reaching this point and level of confidence to the activities I participated in during this program."

Sebie aspires to become a successful lawyer and advocate for women and children in the community. We are very proud and congratulate Sebie on her accomplishment and journey towards a bright future.

Faven also graduates from high school and starts her journey towards self reliance. She joined the BHE program in 2014. Faven was a 7th grade student when she joined BHE in 2014 . She was just two years old when her parents passed away and her aunt took care of her with little income.

After joining BHE, Faven built her academic skills as well as their self esteem and confidence. Faven expressed “I used to hate myself because I felt hopeless and behind the others, fortunately, I had a close follow up during the tutorial program and improved my educational performance.”

Her aunt joined the IGA association supported by the program and was able to improve her 'injera' small business. Faven aspires to study Journalism, feeling joy at her progress she expresses “I am reaching the goals I have set for myself. I have changed a lot, sometimes I am even shocked by it.”

Lemma completes 12th grade and graduates from high school! He is a young man who had a tough journey as a child living with cerebral palsy and being physically impaired. Lemma had been in an orphanage where he lacked appropriate care. After joining BHE in 2014 he received holistic care including education, health and counseling support.

Seeing his motivation and bright potential BHE continued to support him in attending School of Tomorrow, a private school where he received quality education. Despite his challenges Lemma always had a bright smile and big heart. He is friendly and had close friendships with the other children and youth at BHE.

In 2018 Lemma won second place representing his school with a fellow student. BHE supported him in earning a scholarship at the school to finish his last two years of high school. Lemma also received counseling and psychosocial support where he was able to overcome his past trauma. BHE also supported him in reuniting with his father and siblings so he has his family and the loving home he deserves.

Lemma has a passion for IT and music, he aspires to become a Computer Engineer. He has come a long way and BHE is very proud of him. Lemma is an example for the younger children who face any challenges to work hard and succeed.

Thank you for supporting these bright youth through BHE and helping them reach their potential!

Sebie's high school graduation

Faven's high school graduation

Lemma's high school graduation

Links:

Permalink

Nov 17, 2020
Keeping Students Educated & Engaged Amidst COVID19

By Konjit Yimer | Managing Director

Tigist supporting younger students in tutorials

Following the COVID-19 pandemic last year, schools have been closed globally and nationally. Now preparations are being made to safely reopen schools with COVID-19 protection measures in place. Eighth and Twelfth grade students in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia have returned to class since October 26, 2020. Following this we have restarted our tutorial services at BHE’s drop in center so that students have the extra support they need to pass their national exams.

We have been highly encouraged by the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant we were awarded from GlobalGiving for our work focusing on supporting vulnerable children and families from the negative health, economic, educational and psychological impacts of COVID-19. Earlier BHE responded to the pandemic by providing emergency food support to vulnerable families, educational support to students studying at home and psychological guidance and counseling to vulnerable children and their families.

Using the grant BHE has been awarded, we are ensuring our back to school preparations are in line with international and national COVID-19 protection guidelines. We have provided our students attending tutorials with face shields, masks, hand sanitizers and physically distanced chairs.

This year we have 5 students taking the 8th grade exam and 3 taking the 12th grade exam. During school closure, we had been providing them with supplementary materials to support their studies at home. Along with the two grades, BHE is working on restarting tutorials for other grade students as well. While school has not yet reopened for other grades, we are providing the students with orientation on COVID-19 safety during school and tutorials.

As we orient and support younger students in getting back to school, youth in our program such as Tigist, are volunteering and facilitating our sessions. Tigist is a bright young woman in university in her final year studying Construction Management Engineering.

Tigist had a difficult journey as a young child. Her mom and dad separated early on and her mom brought her to Addis at the age of eight. “I lost the mom I loved suddenly due to illness right after I became 13 years old” Tigist stated with sadness. “After losing our mom, life became very difficult.” Her mom passed away leaving her and her younger sister in the care of their aunts. Tigist’s aunt worked as a janitor in a government office with low pay which was not enough to cover their basic needs.

Tigist joined BHE when she was a 12th grade student. Despite her challenges, she was attentive in school and followed her studies. BHE provided her and her aunt with basic needs, health, educational support and counseling. Tigist was able to join university and now is a model of hard work and dedication to the younger students in our program.

Tigist states that counseling and life skills building sessions truly supported her. “The advice and examples we were given during our group sessions seemed simple at the time. I realized their importance when I encountered the issues we discussed in real life and used the skills I had learned.” Tigist expressed.

Tigist often volunteers in her free time at our drop in center providing guidance and mentorship to the younger children. As they prepare to go back to school, Tigist is a shining example that they can succeed through education and hard work despite the challenges they face.

Thank you for supporting BHE in its work of ensuring vulnerable youth have the quality education they deserve so they may succeed and inspire other youth!

Students in tutorial sessions with protection

Students hanging bags individually to keep hygiene

Students are able to sanitize as they enter

Students wash hands with distanced water taps

Links:

Permalink

‹ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.