Reaching Out to Street Children in Ethiopia

Benium left home because his mother and father had separated and neither of them had the money to look after him. He believed that nobody wanted him so he ran away to try and make a life for himself on the streets.

He had been on the streets a few months and was trying to learn how to survive on his own. One evening he was beaten up by a local gang and was left to die on the streets. He had deep cuts to his head and his fingers, arms and ribs were broken. The police had found him lying on the side of the road where he had been left for a whole night with no one to help him. Benium was taken to the hospital where his wounds were bandaged but no one would take responsibility for him. He crawled back to the streets with a high fever and needing help. A lady gave him some milk and some money when she saw how ill he was. He managed to offer someone on a bike the money to take him to the Retrak centre. The man on the bike though that Benium was going to die so rushed him to the Retrak centre.

When Morgan got to Retrak, the staff on site was shocked at the extent of his injuries. His wounds were very deep and they were worried he might not recover. The Retrak staff took him back to the hospital but the staff would not treat him as he was a street child and a ‘thief’. Eventually they found a hospital that would take care of him and after blood transfusions and an operation to repair his wounds they finally believed he would survive.

Benium spent several months in rehabilitation learning to use his muscles again. He was then discharged and sent to the Retrak centre. The Retrak staff managed to get in touch with his father and let him know how ill Benium had been. After a few months he was well enough to see his family again. His younger sister was delighted to see her brother again and his father welcomed him with open arms.

A month later Benium was resettled to his Uncles house as his father was ill and had little money. His uncle was pleased to look after him and his little sister as he had no children of his own. Benium is being followed up by the Retrak medical staff. They check to see that he is recovering. He still has chalenges writing as school as his hand was so badly broken and cut.

Benium is being followed up by the medical staff to see how he was doing medically, he still has challenges with writing at school since the hand that he uses to write is the one which was repaired, but he still manages to be in school. Benium is very happy now and thanks Retrak for helping him when others wouldn’t. His uncle enjoys having the children in his house and appreciates the continued support that Retrak provide for the whole family.

Thank you so much for your continued support of Retrak. Without your help we wouldn’t be able to look after children like Benium who struggle to survive on the streets.

Links:

• Retrak Website