This is the picture which most shows my feelings for these kids. It was very emotional to meet Meskerem and Zineba. They are now in 9th grade, at Bekela School, and it took them a while to come and meet me.
I will try to talk a little about each kid. My feelings and hopes for each of them.
Melkamu. He is in 7th grade now, and doing very well. He is a adorable child and I was very happy to visit his home. He lives in a room with his mother, father and a kitten. We named the cat together UNI. I really tried to put in their heads that University is the only way they have to change their lives. Genet also talked a lot about it to their parents. I said we are providing the money, but the change is in their hands.
Kirubel, a child adopted by Camila and Wendy during their visit last year. He stole my heart too :) He is a gentleman, and protected me all the time, carrying my bags, cleaning the dirty chairs for me to sit down at Mercatto. His english is pretty good, although his grades are not hehe The kids had problems with them, and wanted him out of the group because he is not poor. His father has a car, and his manners show he comes from a good upbringing. When Genet told him that he would be out of the group for this year his mother went insane, and said Camila had chosen him hehe So there he is, being a good example for the others.
Anwar, what a good soul. I really liked him. He is very good friends with Abeba and keleme. Also a gentleman. He failed last year. I told him he must study harder, and he agreed. So I truly hope his grades will get better. I noticed a talent for arts while doing the bookmarks, and gave him extra colorful pens. The kids who failed are not going to English classes, but I bought them dictionaries and books. I told him to ask for help from his friends.
Elyas is very childish, a happy baby :) His grades are average and his father really likes to participate in the meetings. I was happy to see him. Elyas was adopted by our friend Arwa from Dubai and for many years she helped him. Thank you Arwa, your baby is a sweet heart !
Tizazu is a also a new kid. He is an average student, and I was tough on him because he was always kicking Marcos, but apparently it was Marcos fault haha I visited his home to see his brother Adissu who had a hurt leg. I wanted to make sure it was not broken, and fortunately it was not :) Their home is also a room with several beds. The parent (s) were not home.
Derje is not a good student but he is a leader, and is part of the committee created by Genet. The kids in the committee report problems in general, specially problems with the canteen.
My dearest Haimanot. She used to be a very happy and bright kid, she lost it along the way. I was very sad to see that. I asked Genet and she agrees with me, something was lost... Hope she gets better grades in the future.
Abdi is a character !! Best English of the group, he told me he learned at school. He was always very interested in being the photographer, so I let him :)
Hiwot is also part of the committee. A lovely girl, and it seems the food we are giving her is having effect, she became a little chubby hihi Not great grades, but not the worst...
Ajeiba (Zineba's sister) has grown so much, still quiet and kind. I visited her home and discovered a few things. Her father actually lives with them, he has a mental illness. They showed me his health card. He was kind to me, and shock my hands. Her mother showed me the chains they use on him. That was very impressive :( I gave her mother 2000 Birr to buy an injera machine and teff, so she can start a business - selling injera in the neighborhood. I think she deserved that, she is very humble, hard working, and has 5 daughters to take care of. They moved from the plastic house, they complained of the place because there were hyenas there. The city council gave them a metal room, they seems to be better off there.
Yohannes is a sweet heart !! Bad student but a nice personality. And handsome !!
Keleme (Ajaiba's sister) seems much happier now, When we met she was shy and very quiet, she has changed a lot. I visited their home, they live with their father who used to be a beggar at the church. Apparently the government is trying to remove the beggars from the streets, and he got a small job at the church. Their mother live in the country side with another sister, I am not sure why.
Meskerem is a very quiet girl, sweet and smily. Her grades are not the best but she is also part of the committee.
Marcos. He definitely needs braces, but I didn't bring the subject up., I think we should wait for him to grow up a little, braces are tough on a child, and being on his own I think it would be hard for him to keep them on. I went to the police station where he lives, and Genet talked to his relatives :) That is the story... The Police station is moving to another neighborhood, they were afraid the new police offices would not allow Marcos to stay there at Mobil. I asked if they were willing to take Marcos with him, they all said: Yes !!! So I left money with Belaynesh for 7 months of taxi. They will look for another school near the new Police Station (Betel) next school year. For this year he will keep coming to Mekdela, and will continue eating at a small restaurant near Mobil on the weekend. He has to come for English classes on Saturday mornings anyway, so on Saturday he will take his Sunday food with him. The greatest news is that Marcos has a bed inside the Police Station Office ( I ll show pics in another post). The Police Officers are his family, it would be unfair to try to move him from there. They like him, and he respects them. Marcos never misses a day of class. He takes his studies very seriously says Genet, and we can see it in his grades.
Oh !! Shewayetu !!! What a leader !! What a good energy !!! I visited her home. Her mom was also a beggar, and now cooks injera at the church. She complains that now she makes only 400 birr a month. She used to make much more as a beggar hehe
Iman is a very quiet girl, and an average student. She also got very fancy shoes for the Mosque:) but she said she can also use them at school hehe She wants to be a doctor, better to get her grades up for that :)
Abeba our flower. She is much more communicative now, and speaks a little English. She is the more beautiful of all girls in my opinion, and loves to play soccer. She is in doubt between been an Engineer or a soccer player, I advised her to keep the soccer for weekends. She is very good at mathematics and kept all the accounts going while we were shopping for shoes. She was concerned about writing down all the expenses.
Adissu hadn t been present at school since before I got there. Thank God his leg was not broken, I went to visit him to make sure he would be back this term. He is a good student :)
Leykun failed last year, probably because of playing in class, he s very childish... Always has a big smile in his face.
Dearest Meskerem. She got bad grades for the first time last year, and I learned it happened because her mother was very ill. She quit going to school, and Genet had to go to her house to bring her back. Her mother is still ill, she has a younger sister. I told her she must graduate to be able to help her sister. She is in 9th grade now and looks adorable in her new uniform.
Mulugeta is my fantastic boy !!! That is the only word he knows in English, and he uses it quite a lot hehe An average student with a golden heart !
Shewaye is a very nice girl. She also bought nice shoes for the church hehe What to say ?? A very good student. I have high hopes for her.
Terhas failed twice, that s why she has better grades this year :(((( I asked her the reason for that and she told me she had problems at home, but that now things are better and she will make an effort. Wait and see.
Zineba is also in 9th grade now. She is so sweet, and has such horrible grades haha At least she s hanging in there.
Abdi seldom smiles, he also changed a lot. He is a good boy though.
Enatnesh, unfortunately this is the only pic she appears, I only met her in the last day. She is also in 9th grade. She s always been a bad student, let s see if she gets any better now.
