Currently residing in the United States of America, Hiwot Tadesse, an artist, is famous in the art industry. But, she wins the hearts of many through her voluntary activity that she carried out via social media. Not only did she provide a helping hand for several people, but she allowed many Ethiopians across the globe to pay back to their community through her volunteerism.
The following is Hiwot Tadesse’s stay with the Ethiopian Press Agency; where she talked about her experience and voluntary activities. Enjoy! Hiwot went to Tsadeku Yahannes Primary School, located at her birth place, Gondar, Amhara State where a number of prominent Ethiopians like Professor Haile Gerima was educated. When she was a student, besides the habit of reading books, she used to actively engage in different clubs in her school.
Unfortunately, following her grandmother’s death, she could not stay in Gondar and had to come to her auntie’s house in Addis Ababa; and continued her preparatory school. Later on, she was lucky enough to join the Theater and Art Department in Addis Ababa University which was her childhood dream.
“I never considered myself as a journalist but an artist. For the reason that art and promotion is highly linked in the country, I feel happy that I was able to engage more in the media.”
She went on saying: “I believe my purpose in life is beyond having a decent job, owning a house or a car. Stretching a helping hand for people that are in need and giving them relief is what inspires me to live and do well.”
This is the main reason that she uses her social media account for charity purposes. Here, she mentioned that the Coronavirus pandemic had a significant role for her to highly engage in the voluntary activity through the media outlet.
Despite the socioeconomic impact, the pandemic played undeniable role for the emerging of many ideas and businesses. Staying at home pushed her to spend more time on the social media and allowed her to meet plenty of kindhearted individuals.
Then, she accidentally came across that the Mekedonia Humanitarian Association was having hard time trying to provide adult diaper since there was restriction of visitors due to the pandemic and number of people that used to support the organization was significantly declined. Then, she instantly started collecting adult diapers from her fellow Ethiopians in the US and donated the diapers to the Association’s representative in Virginia.
Hiwot did not stop her charity work there; but she continued supporting people along with her social media followers. She started sharing the story of the people that seek support by verifying their story with the support of her circles. Thus, she was able to reach out to so many children as well as adults through the platform.
Though compromising her time needs a lot of dedication given the fact that she is a mother of three and have her private job, she stressed that the charity work is something that she will not compare it to anything.
One time, she saw a promotion made by Ethiopian Children’s Cardiac Center that says ‘Donate your Christmas gift for cardiac patients’. By the time, a child with cardiac disease needs at least a hundred thousand Birr for medication. She decided to cover the expense of medication of one child. Then she discussed with her friends and collected over 270,000 birr that covers at least three children’s expense.
One day, a father whose child was suffering from cardiac disease gave her a call. He told her that he is a father of a six months daughter who needed a surgery in India and he was short of cash. She immediately communicated with her friends and gave him the money he needed.
“Years after, her father sent me a picture of a beautiful and healthy girl celebrating her birthday along with a note. I do not think I will ever forget the feeling,” she underscored.
After her spouse came up with the idea of celebrating their children’s first birthday by donating books for “Kebebe Tsehay Orphanage Center”, and donated the children comic books that they collected through social media platform, she made it a habit of celebrating when her own birthday.
Apart from her continuous support to the cardiac center, she decided to collect another donation as a way of her birthday celebration. Hiwot said to her friends and followers to exchange their supposed gifts in to cash and give her instead; so that she can support the center. Fortunately, she collected over one million Birr which sponsored around ten children. She continued the second year gathering some 1.2 million Birr and sponsored 12 children.
Hiwot was never satisfied with her support as the numbers of children that are lined up in the waiting list for their turn for examination did not give her peace. She then collaborated with likeminded people and was able to donate the cardiac center 50 million Birr worth medical machine (equipment).
Hiwot was awarded for her dedication in supporting people in need. Best Service Award was one of her prizes given to her by Montgomery City.
She was also rewarded the Sweet Life Award for using social media for charity works. Similarly, she was given several appreciation certificates from several charity organizations that she worked with such as Mekedonia Humanitarian Association, Tesfa Addis Parents Childhood Cancer Organization, Selihom Mental Care Center, among others.
She said that she shares all the recognition and appreciation certificate with her husband and three children as she dedicate all those times in her charity activities taking from her families; and extended her gratitude for those people and organizations who believed in her and provided support to the needy one.
BY BETELHEM BEDLU
The Ethiopian Herald October 12/2023
