Mekdes Getachew is a resident of Woreda 14 in Lemi Kura Sub-City, Addis Ababa. She is the sole breadwinner of her two children. According to Mekdes, because her daily income is not more than twenty birr, she has been struggling to cover her daily expenses and satisfy her own and children’s immediate needs. Thus, she has been leading a hand to mouth existence.
“My life is full of misery and in a situation where food is in short supply. I have no one by my side as my life mate abandoned us, and I have no idea where he is now. I make a living by collecting littered plastic bottles, selling them to buyers, and escorting the schoolchildren of my neighboring families from home to school and back.
I could not even feed and send my children to school as my neighbors do. When things get worse, I had to beg alms to feed my children; and because everyone knows how I am dealing with my daily life, they support me in kind and providing food,” she said.
Fortunately, representatives from the Children and Women’s Affairs Bureau visited and asked her to tell them about her—her source of income, how she feeds herself and her children and other challenges.
“Last week the representatives came to visit me and notified me as I will be given a sponsorship opportunity and my children will receive support from volunteers.”
Mekdes expressed this at the sponsorship program organized by Addis Ababa Mayor Office under the theme “One family for One Child.” The program was designed to educate and give sustained support for 100 children until they graduate university.
Speaking at the program, Mayor Adanech Abiebie said that in accordance with the program formulated by the government to build a generation, a number of activities are ongoing in the capital. Mainly, because investing in the generation has its own multitudinous returns in creating the hope of the country for a better tomorrow, extensive works are undertaken with special attention in the city to make Addis Ababa the best African city for raising children. The program, where children can grow and learn happily, mentally and physically, has already started.
Today the City Administration, in partnership with NWS Trading P.L.C owner, Manaye Sendeku has found a sponsor for one hundred children with a range of one month to six years and to financially take care of the children, (three thousand birr per month) until they graduated from universities.
According to her, public engagements could not undo the social and economic challenges of the community. Rather, the private sector should come at forefront and invest in the posterity. It is obvious investing in early childhood development and education plays a significant role in establishing sustainable economic development and has a huge social payoff.
Mayor Office holds the importance of supporting families is an essential mechanism to unlock a women’s ability and enhance their participation in the workforce, and improve access to childcare that affects family and balance work • of both women and men.
“There is nothing that makes a mother happier than seeing her child grow and develop physically and mentally. Thus, parents who got sponsorship opportunities for your children, congratulations. The City Administration will keep on executing human center projects,” the Mayor expressed her feeling.
On behalf of the parents and the children, she also extended her heartfelt gratitude to Manaye Sendeku, who shared the City Administration’s vision and took the responsibility to back and educate one hundred children up to university. And Mekdes Getachew was one of the beneficiaries of this program.
The other beneficiary is the mother of Eyob Kefyalew. “I was excited when I learned that my son was given the opportunity and became one of the one hundred beneficiaries of the sponsorship program. I also learnt three thousands birr per month till my son Eyob graduated from higher education. It means a lot to me. I am grateful for the support given to us.”
According to her, the support enables her to spend more time to increasing her income and it reduces the challenges she was facing as a single mom, especially in feeding her two children Kalkidan Kefyalew and Eyob Kefyalew and fulfilling their clothing requirements.
“Following the increment of cost of living in Addis Ababa, I was on the verge of living on the streets. However, thanks to the commencement of this program, I am safe now. Not only sending my children to school, I am supported financially on a monthly basis,” she said.
Bethlehem Hurrisa, 35, also stated how she got the opportunity and became one of the beneficiaries of the program. “I am from Lideta Sub-City and a mother of twins named Christina Leul and Yemral Leul, two years and six months old.
“Their father does not support us,” she said, fighting to hold back her tears. “It is very difficult for me. I faced a lot of challenges while raising my children without a family. I am happy because I am one of the beneficiaries of the program because it could impact my life positively, and help me to care for my children now better than ever before.
As she stated, because she is the only breadwinner and the cost of living is keeping on hiking, she was facing a burden. “I make my living and bring up my toddlers by engaging in various activities such as washing clothes in my neighborhood and selling some goods to the surrounding people.”
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Addis Ababa City Administration Woman and Children Social Affairs Bureau Head Woyneshet Zerihun said that this is one of the efforts to make Addis Ababa suitable for raising children.
“Early childhood is a critical stage where the foundation for their future success is laid. It is believed that providing support to needy families could enhance quality early childhood development opportunities.”
According to her, since early childhood captures the period of development from conception to six years, investing at this critical time has a number of returns in ensuring nation building.
Health professionals say that early childhood, especially the first three years, is a time for rapid physical, intellectual, psychological, social, and emotional development; and it is the time when the foundation for children’s future success is laid.
Merely in the past three years. It was arranged for 750 children to be provided with food, clothing, and educational materials from infancy to higher education. To this happen, various institutions and individuals have extended helping hands, it was stated.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 6 OCTOBER 2023
