Daniel Fantahun is 20. It was without saying “bye!” to his grandparents who brought him up he came to Addis in 2006 E.C. to shape his fate anew. Born to a poor family in northern Wollo in the particular place of Woldia district, he, along with family members, was wallowing in the quagmire of poverty.
He has no inkling about his parents who abandoned him while he was a toddler. Growing up in a family full of disagreement and conflict he tasted the bitterness of life to the full. Innumerable were the times he did not have a morsel of bread to munch, while his aunt’s children enjoyed delicious meals.
He feels indebted to his grandmother for her unconditional love and giving him a genuine guidance.
While in Woldia he was engaged in poultry. He was engaged in the sale of sheep parallel to working as a casual laborer. Even if he worked hard, he was managing life with distress and discomfort. That was why he decided to come to Addis Ababa without informing his grandparents, who could dissuade him otherwise.
To cover his transportation fee, he sold quintals of Teff in the granary for 600 Birr.
Here in Addis, he was sleeping on the porch of buildings around Saint Mary church at Arat kilo.
Observing peers, he decided to work as a shoe shiner. To kick start the job, he didn’t have the shoe shinning kit. He was also living on bread and water.
Gradually, he got a lodging that asks 40 Birr for a night. Then after, around the Ethiopian Press Agency building proactively interacting with people by intuitive interpersonal communication cues, he endeared himself to many people who served a springboard for his successful achievement.
When he started the work there was a big challenge from rivals and others. Finally, he settled at the aforementioned place.
Soon, he brought his school documents from hometown. Taking a loaf of bread every meal for a year, he started pursuing his education.
In the course of time, he rented a small room around Eyesus Gedam church with 700 Birr. Simultaneously, with the shoe shining task he was engaged in selling used newspapers.
Gradually, he developed his financial muscle and got a relief from troublesome and burdensome life. Then he decided to save money for a rainy day. Urged by a Bank’s clerk, he deposited ten Birr in his saving account. That moment became the turning point in his life, for he became an addict for depositing money. He used to get 150 Birr a day. Boldly he used to save 100 Birr in his account on daily basis.
Within 5 years he managed to collect 140,000 Birr. Then he bought a cap- taxi. Also outlaying 15,000 Birr for training and the like he got a driving license.
He is currently taking a training joining Universal Vocational School in the field of accounting. Next year, he will graduate. “Such success is realized by the will of Almighty God and benevolent citizens, God is sure to throw in one’s rocky road of life,” he says.
He does not attach much attention to the clothes he puts on and the quality of stationery materials he needed for school. “Among the noble ones who extend to me a helping hand and kind words, there is a customer whose goes by the name Solomon. He is the one who supports me a lot in terms of materials such as clothes, shoes and motivational gestures. The likes of him feed me hope to easily bear difficulties and constraints. My desire is to make it to the top fighting against all odds.”
Daniel has unshakable faith and loyalty to the word of God.
Moreover, he is committed towards the fulfillment of his ambitious goals. Surprisingly, in a notepad he has listed long and short term plans. Due to this bent of his, he has managed to achieve success within five years.
“Hopefully, I will have own private business venture in the coming years,”
As his education performance is promising he is optimist that, his dream will be fruitful soon. Now, he simultaneously works both as a shoe shiner and taxi driver. He deserves high five. Here it must be noted that his spirit of never say die could serve a motivation for many ready to accept the new year with a new plan of “Never say die!’’
The Ethiopian Herald August 25, 2019
BY MEHARI BEYENE
