THE SUCCESS STORY OF KALKIDANE
Kalkidan is a grade 2 student and a member of the reading camp of Dongora FTC.. Kalkidan was unable to read even a single word, when she joined the reading camp. She showed great improvement in her reading and writing skills after being a member of the reading camp. After three months of stay in the reading camp, she is able to read more than 45 words per minute.
The school principal Ato Sintayew Derese said “ the project has created equal opportunity for male and female students in all reading spaces (reading camp, reading & writing club and reading parks). Kalikidan is hard working and has good behavior . She is one of our best achiever students and her improvement started after joining reading camp”.
Ashenafi Mirga is the volunteer community literacy leader (CLL) in Dongora FTC reading camp. He said “ when Kalkidan joined the reading camp, her reading level was ‘D’, which means unable to read even one word as per the standard of MOE. Currently she has improved a lot and able to read 45 and above words per minute”.
Shilimat Nadamo is Kalkidan’s reading buddy. Shelimat said “ when I started supporting her, she knew only letters and even cannot differentiate the functions of vowels. I support her 2-3 times per a week, and I am amazed with her instant change”.
Kalikidan also supported the idea of her teacher, reading buddy and CLL, and she said “ I have improved my educational achievement and my participation in the classroom in the reading camp. Moreover, my academic results have also been improved. I have also improved self – confidence to work with others and my ability to express my feelings”.
HOPE AND BETTER LIFE FOR TARIKUA
Tarikua Tibebe is an adolescent living with HIV/AIDS. Tarikua knew her HIV status before 4 years, after losing her mother due to HIV/AIDS. Tarikua’s living circumstances have gotten worse since the death of her mother.
Tarikua lives with her aunt who earns living by weaving and are struggling to cover her living cost. Tarikua stopped attending school due to the long distance to school and unable to pay for transportation. Even if Tarikua was depressed and felt continuous hopelessness, she had to start working in a cafe because she had to provide for her destitute aunt and also pay for her own sanitary pads, hair oil, soap, and other necessities.
One day Tarikua met with Emebet who is a social service worker (SSW) employed by the Common Vision for Development Association. The SSW counseled and calmed down Tarikua and promised to visit her so as to help her improve her dire situation. Soon the SSW met with Tarikua again and assured her that the health facility where she is receiving antiretroviral therapy will assist her to continue school. Furthermore, the SSW was able to find an individual who is willing to pay for Tarikua’s transportation and other school-related costs. The health facility sent a letter to the school and the SSW showed Tarikua’s previous school result to the school director and the director admitted Tarikua for the following academic year. Additionally, the SSW spoke with Tarikua’s aunt and arranged that Tarikua would help in the household only in her spare time.
Tarikua is now in grade 9 and progressed to the next semester with good result. She is looking forward to finish high school education. She said “now I am hopeful and happy and I want to be a professional cloth designer”.
A STRUGGLE FOR BETTER PROSPECT !
Tenagne Kebede is 38 years old who lives with her 9 and 17 years old children at Woreda 9, Gulele Sub-City. Tenagne knew her HIV/AIDS status before three years and kept following her anti-retroviral treatment at St. Paul hospital.
Tenagne was a housewife and married to her late husband who was a driver. The only means for living they had was from her husband income. After months of bed ridden suffering, her husband died in 2018. Tenagne had nobody to help her provide for the family. Her daughter also became sick with epilepsy and Tenagne had to stay at home with her daughter. After a few months, because they were unable to pay for house rent, they become a homeless and started living in a plastic house. Though Tenagne begin washing cloth for the nearby community, she was struggling and barely able to cover her family living cost.
In this situation, Meaza, a case worker of Common Vision for Development Association (CVDA), found Tenagne and enrolled her to the Family Focused HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment program. After assessing her need, the case worker linked her to community care coalition for nutrition support program. The case worker also enrolled Tenagne in the village saving and loan association (VSLA) training. After some months, Tenagne took loan from her VSLA group and begin Tuaf candle selling business. Tenagne also got financial support from CVDA that enabled her buy electric bakery and start making and selling enjera at her village. Furthermore, after a while, with the support and guidance of case worker, Tenagne got a kebele house.
Tenagne now properly follow Anti-retroviral treatment and make a living by selling enjera. She even saved enough money that she has a plan to expand her work using her saving and by taking additional loan from her VSLA groups. Tenagne said “currently I live a happy life with my children. I have good prospect towards myself and my family future life”.
