2015 Age 21
Dinku is from the countryside. When he was in grade 5, his mother died and he moved into Lalibela to try to access education. His father gives him no support and he survives by doing labouring work when not at school.
He did well in the grade 10 national exams and now has a place in grade 11. He has an ambition to be a doctor.
It has been agreed to support him with 600 Birr per month.
2015 Age 20
Ezra is a disabled boy and cannot walk without the use of a crutch. He is one of 5 children and the family has no means to support them. He was living with an aunt and uncle but has now had to move out and live on his own. Because of his disability, he is unable to earn money for house rent, food, school materials etc.
He did well in the grade 10 national exams and now has a place in grade 11. His ambition is to become a journalist.
It has been agreed to support him with 600 Birr per month
2015 Age 15
Gashaw’s father died when he was very young. He lives with his younger brother and his mother. His mother has no work and finds it very difficult to keep Gashaw in the school system.
Gashaw is in grade 10 this year.
It has been agreed to support him through grade 10 with 600 Birr per month. The support will continue if he is successful in getting a place in grade 11 next year.
2015 Age 23
Getaye lived in the countryside 30km from Lalibela. A number of years ago both his parents were killed during a thunder storm. After this he moved into Lalibela.
He survives by working as a labourer and has tried to keep up with his schoolwork at the same time.
He did well in the grade 10 national exams and now has a place in grade 11. It has been agreed to support him with 600 Birr per month.
2015 Age 19
Getnet lives in the countryside 23 Km. from Lalibela.
He was orphaned many years ago and has managed to stay in the education system.
2 years ago he passed the grade 10 National exams with ‘great distinction’. He is now in grade 12 and next year hopes to be at University.
It has been agreed to support him with 600 Birr per month.
2015 Age 17
Hzbalem was born in a very poor family in the countryside and her mother died when she was very young.
She has faced many challenges in trying to access an education. She has attended school for half a day and has looked for any kind of work in the other half of the day in order to have money to survive.
She did well in her grade 12 National exams and now has a place at Gonder University where she is studying Social Sciences.
It has been agreed to support her with 600 Birr per month.
2015 Age 20
Mekonn is a disabled boy who only has the use of 1 hand.
His father was killed in the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea and his mother is sick and unable to support him.
He sat the grade 10 National exams this year and has been awarded his certificate with great distinction. He is now in grade 11.
It has been agreed to support him with 600 Birr per month.
2015 Age 18
Nuruhusien is one of 5 children. Like many young people in Lalibela, there is a lack of money to give them support through the education system.
His ambition for the future is to become a water engineer and ensure that all rural areas have access to water.
He did well in the grade 10 national exams and now has a place in grade 11. It has been agreed to support him with 600 Birr per month.
2015 Age 18
I first met Teddy when I came to Lalibela 8 years ago.
He is an orphan and, when very young, was living on the streets in Lalibela. He then found a place in an orphanage, where schooling was encouraged, and I have watched him fast track through the school system. The orphanage closed 2 years ago and he is now on his own.
He is a very talented artist and he would like to make this his career.
He did well in the grade 10 national exams and now has a place in grade 11. It has been agreed to support him with 600 Birr per month.
2015 Age 17
Tewolde is now a grade 12 student.
Like many, his parents don’t have enough money to support his education.
It has been agreed to support him with 600 Birr per month.
2015 Age 19
Dagnachew has completed his 1st. year at Haramia University where he is studying Softwear Engineering.
He is one of 7 children. His father is a local priest but does not earn enough to support the family.
Dagnachew has struggled to survive at University and made application for our help.
It has been agreed to support him with 600 Birr per month.
2105 Age 18
Eshetu is part of a large family in Lalibela. His father died when he was a child and his mother has struggled hard to support the family.
Eshetu did exceptionally well in the grade 12 National exams and is now in his 1st. year at Bahir Dar University where he is studying Business and Economics.
It has been agreed to support him with 600 Birr per month.
2015 Age 18
Frihiwot was born in the countryside and her parents are subsistence farmers. They live a ‘hand to mouth’ existence.
Frihiwotdid well in her grade 12 National exams and is now in her 1st. year at Debre Birhan University where she is studying Geography.
It has been agreed to support her with 600 Birr per month.
The Bude Methodist church in England are continuing their sponsorship of young people studying in the medical field.
The Susan Aitchison scholarship fund is managing payments to the students on their behalf.
This year three new students have been taken on.
2015 Age 19
Samrawit is from a poor family in Lalibela.
She wanted to study nursing but was not accepted for university.
In September 2014, she joined the Kae-Med College of Nursing in Addis Ababa. She was finding it very difficult to pay the college fees and the Bude Methodist church agreed to give her support from February 2015.
She is now in her second year of study.
2015 Age 17
Birhan was born in Lalibela. Her father died when she was young. This has meant her living, and going to school, in a number of towns in Ethiopia as her mother was looking for family to support them. Recently they have been living in Kombolcha with an uncle of Birhan.
Birhan sat her grade 12 National exams in Kombolcha and scored an incredibly high mark of 569 out of a possible 700.
She made application to St. Paul’s teaching hospital in Addis Ababa, sat their exam, was interviewed and was one of the lucky 100 students accepted for medical training.
She has now settled into her 1st. year of training.
2015 Aged 22
Kiberealem has completed 2 years as a medical nursing student at Arbaminch University. Her goal is to become a retinal specialist.
Her family are very poor and can give her no support. She has been struggling to stay at University and applied for some help from the scholarship fund.
Once accepted for University, accommodation and food is provided but she has no money for things like photocopying.
This year I am starting with Mebratu’s story as it is such a good example of the scholarship fund in practice. Mebratu was one of the original 10 students we supported. He is now in full time employment as a teacher, which is giving back so much to other students. In addition, his uneducated family now appreciate the power of education. Hopefully the next generation of his family will all have the opportunity to access schooling.
September 2009
Mebratu made successful application for the scholarship fund. He was a grade 12 student with ambition to go to university. He has 9 brothers and sisters, none of whom has had education. His parents wanted him to give up his education, marry and work as a farmer. Our support enabled him to continue his education.
July 2103
Graduation day!
Mebratu now has a BSc. In Biology.
November 2014
Mebratu has now completed a teacher training course and is in full time employment, teaching Biology, to grades 9 to 12, in a secondary school in Kolmask.
I asked him how his family now feel about him and his answer was that they now listen to him!
His youngest sister is now 14 and completed grades 1 and 2 before dropping out of education to work at home. Mebratu has insisted that she return to the education system and he is supporting her through this.
You can view the stories of all of our students, year-by-year, by clicking on any of their names in the menu of “Young People Funded”.
In 2013/2014, we supported 22 young people in various stages in the education system. They have continued to pay us back by working hard and achieving good results. I am pleased to say that there has been no ‘drop outs’ this year. The main reason for this is the careful screening of applicants given by the Lalibelan committee. This ensures that the young people we help are those with the greatest need. They are all very grateful for the support, without which they would not be able to remain in the education system. I am constantly receiving their thanks, when the thanks are due to all of you.
In 2013/2014 the equivalent of £6,140 has been distributed to the students.
Thank you to Hamilton Bridge Club, which is responsible for the setting up of the fund. Their annual tournament again topped up the money in the bank. Thanks to all those who have set up a standing order, and paid money regularly into the account. Thanks to everyone who has made donations throughout the year. Thanks to the visitors to Lalibela who have given money in support.
A special thank you is due to Roisin Sharp, and her family, who have been fund raising for most of the year and have contributed more than £1,500. I am amazed that auctioning 4 kittens could raise £350, enough to keep a young person in the education system for almost 18 months.
A special thank you is also due to Doris Hogan who is presently living in Addis Ababa. She held an exhibition of her Ethiopian photographs and donated the money made to the fund. This was an amazing 12,000 birr.
Many of our students are disadvantaged by not having a computer. Last year Sheena McCall funded for computers for 2 of our students. This year Pat Snook found a company in England, computers4africa, which reconditions old computers and sells them very cheaply if they are to be used by students in Africa. Pat brought a computer for one of the students on her recent visit and it has been possible to get another 2 brought over. If anyone is planning a visit, and has spare luggage space, please let me know and I can organise to get a computer to you to carry over.
The scheme could not run without the support of the 2 committees. All the members give their time, and expertise, without any payment. Thank you Tefera, Habtamu and Tsegenet in Lalibela and June, Margaret and Morag in Scotland.
Two of our young people graduated this year and are not now being supported by the fund. Due to everyone’s generosity, we have been able to add 6 new young people to the programme. This means that we will be supporting 26 young people during 2014/2015. As 10 of our students are scheduled to graduate in 2015, we are expecting to be able to accept a large intake of new students in session 2015/2016.
It is difficult to find the words to describe the difference this money is making to the lives of these young people. Please accept my thanks for remembering us out here and for your continual support.
CONGRATULATIONS to our third crop of graduates.
2014 Age 23 years
BA in Languages from Dilla University
Besfat now has his degree, thanks to our support in his final year.
He continues with his dream to become a journalist. For the present, he is in full time employment as a manager with a beer distribution company.
