Our world has been showcasing to us different heroes in different situations. In ancient times, people used to select heroes based on heroic feats on war fronts. They lauded victors who vanquished their enemies. So, at that time, heroes were marked based on military prowess and martyrdom.
Nowadays, the dimension of lifestyle is broadening. As such, the opportunity of being a hero is becoming multifacated. In this modern and globalized village, relatively, it is possible to come up with heroic deeds, which could conjure up in one’s mind in many forms. But not all people are blessed with accomplishing a miraculous thing for their society, their country or for mankind in general. But, some who prove fortunate enough are blessed with the talent to accomplish a historic and unforgettable deed.
From these heroes, we can mention one person who leads a selfless life glittering with success stories. He goes by the name Melese Ayele. He is the founder and Executive Director of Gergesenon Community Support Organization for Persons with Mental Health Problem.
He is 35. He was born here in Addis around Shiro Meda. Melese attended his school around his living area till he went to college. Unlike his age mates, he did not spend his childhood playing with friends and families. He had been attending church programs and participating in community activities of the church.
So, his entire life had been shaped by spiritual and positive thoughts. Even at his early days, Melese used to derive his happiness from lending helping hands to helpless citizens who comprised elders, destitutes and people living mental illness. People who sought comfort by the gate of churches were the objects of his attention.
Melese had been engaged in the good gesture without the knowledge of many including his parents. He did so to evade possible objections and to not stop his good deeds.
“While I was a primary school student, once teachers had called us for makeup classes, which my classmates had attended. I was sure I could understand things asking them.
I had gone a little bit far. I was supporting senior citizens fetching water and fire woods. I was also washing their bodies. I busied myself giving support to the homeless who live around grave,” he said.
At that juncture, Melese started thinking about the future. His dreams to support people who cannot fend for themselves continued mounting. Though he did not come of age he pledged to himself “Coming to the open I should support these people. I should help them establishing a charity organization.”
Time went by. Melese finished his college education and became a teacher. But his lifetime dream of coming up with a humanitarian NGO was at the back of his mind. His need was helping the helpless people. So , he resigned soon to devote his fulltime on helping the hopeless.
To realize his dream, he started some movements. “I distanced myself from my family members telling them that I had gone to other places in search of better-paying jobs. I used to visit them only on holydays. They had no inkling about what I do,” he stated.
At that point, he rented a small house for only 110 Ethiopian Birr. Soon, he picked five mentally ill persons from the road to shelter them at his lodging. Then six of them, including himself, started living together. All were mentally ill people. They were troubling him trying to go back to the streets. It was a bit challenging for him to manage and accommodate them single –handedly.
Melese’s passion to support these helpless people was very fervent. But without his good will, he has not enough means. Even, the government was not aware what he was doing. The task was very risky.
After years, the humanitarian task he started with five people has now snowballed to more than 300 beneficiaries. Now, the association has acquired a legal entity. It has facilitated a relatively better living place for the beneficiaries.
Melese speaks that “First we start giving love for the mentally ill persons when they join us. Because their feelings are damaged for want of love. They had been leading life estranged from society. Now we nurse them as parents care for their new born,” he added. From these beneficiaries, over 100 had recuperated and reintegrated with society.
After wading in uncharted waters for long, currently Melese is handling his job with lots of volunteers and governmental stakeholders. He had passed trying times successfully. Many have understood his cause.
As such they are willing to work together with him. To handle necessary tasks, financial muscle is obligatory. The public must come aboard to beef up this muscle of his. Most people have knowhow about the organization and always visit the beneficiaries and support them.
People drop in at the center with money and materials. Volunteers participate in most of the organization’s tasks. They wash the beneficiary’s body, clean the compound, cook foods and take other responsibilities.
As to Melese, the challenge to establish and to keep this association going was very hard. Managing a set of people with mental illnesses with unfulfilled situations tests the patience of an all-enduring human being.
Despite the setbacks conspiring to abort his dream, nothing between him and his dream stops him from realizing his goal.
Currently, Gergesenon is confined to a narrow space. As such, it is not a comfort zone for the beneficiaries. But the good news is that the government has permitted the association to get about 20,000 square meter area for building a recuperating place for beneficiaries.
Now, Melese dreams big for coming days. He wants to build a huge recuperating zone for the mentally ill people and to accept as many helpless souls as much as possible. He wishes not to see people with mental illness that loaf on Addis’s as well as on other Ethiopian roads.
He does not believe that he achieved success but he believes that he is on his way towards his goal. Every night, after finishing his job when he goes to bed, he feels contented for getting many back to the track.
Many agree that he is a role-model for most youths when it comes to a selfless personality.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition 28 July 2019
BY MULUGETA GUDETA
