Habtamu is 12 years old, he has a great personality , but he is not very hardworking at school. I am not sure what is the problem because he was in the theater play working very close to me, and he memorized all his lines, understood everything, was extremely helpful towards others... Average 67.95 Rank 35/39 Failed
Elyas (10 years old) has been supported by our friend A.since the beginning. She picked him as the African brother of her son. He is a super happy boy, we visited his house, met his cat and sister (pictures in the blog), and have also met his father. His mother lives in Dubai. No grade as he is too young.
Abdi (12 years old) is a very tall boy, a great student, very popular among his friends. He lives with his grandparents, and he used to help me calling Membere in his neighborhood as she lives in a very remote corner. Habtamu is extremely poor, difficult to say who is poorer though... He deserves sponsoring for being a good student, I think. Average 79.6% Rank10/45 very Good(10 years old
Tekesta is 9 years old, he is super sweet and feels like a big baby. He also has no father and lives with HIV positive mother.
Leykun is 11 years old - his mother died of HIV and his father is HIV positive, he is always ill, and it seems he has no energy to tell his son to study... He has been warned that he should do better if he wants to remain in the group. Average 52.2% Rank 42/42 Not good
Malkamu has no father and his mother is a beggar. 10 years old, no grades too young.
Nazanet, 10 years old, my princess is HIV positive, and lives with her mother and brother. She would need a better diet but I was never able to supply it. She doesn't do well at school but she is always there, always trying her best. She is very small for her age, and I believe the illness + lifestyle has affected her learning abilities. Her mom is also HIV positive. I took them to the hospital, they take their medicine daily but they both look very weak. Failed in Maths 48/100 and Amharic; 45/100 failed.
Membere, 11 years old, is my favorite in the group and I support her. She is talented for arts, theater, she is super smart - not at school though. She was raped by her father when she was about 8 years old, he is in jail, he rmother dissapeared when this happened. Maybe because of shame? I heard stories she is in the Middle East somewhere, and that she does not send money to the kids. She used to live with her great grandmother, or grandmother... but she died the day I was leaving Addis Ababa. She knocked on my door to tell me the news. I went to the funeral, and found out an uncle will be taking care of her and her little brother, who is a very quiet and shy boy. We are not sure if he has any development problem. Membere used to go to my house very often, she spend a few hours with us, she was extremely sweet towards us and our dog, and taught us lots of Ahmaric.
Haimanot is 10 years old and has no father. She is adorable, not a good student but very pleasant and caring. 64.4% Ranking 33/42
Enatnesh has very poor parents too, but she is not a good student, however she has lovely personality and is very alive.
Abeba, 14 years old, (above) and Keleme, 11 years old, (below) are sisters, their father is an old man, and he is a beggar at St Gabriel's Church, near our house. In the summer they both go to bible school, and the church feeds them. Connie helped the church a few times, because they do a good work. They are both very quiet and shy, and both very smart. Abeba is always number 2 in her class (92.6% ranking 3/42), and Keleme (94.6% Ranking 1/42 ) is not much different. Abeba's painting was the first one I sold, she painted these blue chickens, very alive and pretty.
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