BY LEULSEGED WORKU
Imagine, once you were leading a comfortable, luxurious and modern life in one of the most developed nations where modernity is its identity. There, you spent good and bad moments for not less than 31 years.
However, in one of the unfortunate days, following the sickness you faced (mental disorder) you found yourself being homeless; and sheltering in a den at your homeland. Having no one to help or support you at hometown, you end up in sleeping in a den for not less than 20 years in a situation putting your safety in danger.
This is not a fictitious story that you may read it on novels or watch it on Hollywood movies. Rather, it is a true story of a 70 year old Ethiopian woman who was compelled to lead life in the den for the past 20 years.
Jemanesh Deneke was earnestly pleading and crying for the past twenty years needing support from Kirkos Sub City, Woreda 09 Administration to offer her a house where she can live safely and peacefully. However, her beseeching could not win the hearts of those people who were administrating the Woreda. Her plead fell on deaf ears and blind eyes among them.
As if she is destined to live in a forest like a wild animal and lead miserable life, they gave her the cold shoulder. Thus, she was compelled to lead a miserable life for the last twenty years by making a plastic shelter in the forest.
However, as Addis Ababa Mayor of Office reported, thanks to Kirkos Sub City Administration, now, it seems that fortune starts smiling on her and good things tend to happen to her. Following the initiation by city officials to better meet the needs of the homeless and restore pride to those disadvantaged group, she has now become the owner of a house. The old days, where she used to sleep in a jungle suffering from extreme cold weather and blistering heat, risking her life has now concluded. In turn, a new day has come- to start a new life within her new house.
After 21 years of struggle and hopelessness, Jemanesh has now become the owner of her house. As it is learnt, administrators of Kirkos Sub City joining hands with Woreda 09 have handed over the key of her new house. What is more, the leaderships of the sub city and the kebele have passed decision to equip the houses with all necessary house equipment.
In fact, since the past two or more years, the Addis Ababa City Administration has been working aggressively to support pro-poor segments of city’s residents in every possible ways. Using all available resources, it has supported several senior citizens whose life was stacked between life and death Aside from establishing feeding centers in various areas and enabling those vulnerable groups to have their meals in their respective places to creating job opportunity plus subsidizing them by all available means, it has been executing pro- poor-centered activities. As a result, the life style of several deprived people has changed dramatically.
So far, the Administration has supported thousands of people. It has renovated houses of elders, helpless and disabled people and reconstructed shabby houses and delivered to the needy. By doing so, it can help many people who were forgotten for years, have now started leading a dignified life. This is what leadership means- standing for all people in all economic circumstances.
This has happened to Jemanesh. For the reason she has no one to help her, this woman suffered a lot for two decades. She experienced hell on earth. However now, thanks to the commitment of the City Administration, effort of the Kirkos Sub City and Woreda 9 administrators, she has seen the glimpse of hope. However, as there are many people who are living in extreme poverty, helping them to sustainably through devising sustainable mechanism should be further strengthened.
The Ethiopian Herald October 16/2022
