Category: New Students

Tsigiemariam Tafete

TSIGIEMARIAM-TAFETE-20122012 Age 17 years

Tsigiemariam’s mother died when she was 7 years old. Since that time, she has had the responsibility to work to support the family. She washes clothes for many people to earn money.

Throughout all this she has remained in the education system and has now gone into grade 12. Her average mark for grade 11 was 78%. She has the ambition to go to University next year.
It has been agreed to give her a monthly payment of 500 birr + 2 performance related bonuses of up to 250 birr each.

This money will enable her to concentrate on her studies this year.

Wubetu Biset Awoke

WUBETU-BISET-AWOKE-20102010 Aged 16

Wubeta’s father died when he was young. His mother was killed 2 years ago, by a thrown stone. His sister, aged 20, has been trying to keep the family together. There are 5 children in total. They live in a hut in Shimsha, which is 10 kilometres from Lalibela. Every day, Wubeta walks the 10 Km to school in Lalibela and the 10Km home to Shimsha. Continue reading Wubetu Biset Awoke

Abebe Salehu Weleargay

ABEBE-SALEHU-WELEARGAY-20102010 Aged 19 years

Abebe is one of 11 children from Shimsha which is 10 Km from Lalibela. His family are very poor and cannot support him in his education. He managed to support himself in lower school as there was only half- day attendance and he could work at labouring in the other half day.

Last year was a problem to him as he was in grade 11, which has full day attendance. In addition, he walked 10 Km. each way, every day, to get to school and back home. In spite of all his problems, he finished third in his class this year.

He is now in grade 12 and it has been agreed to give him support. He will get 500 Birr (£25) per month and two, performance related, incentive bonuses, paying up to 250 Birr each.

The money has enabled him to rent accommodation in Lalibela and concentrate on his studies.

Destaw Temesgn Gelaye

2010 Aged 19 years

Destaw made application for support from the scholarship fund. He was one of the 10 selected from the 61 applicants to have their form sent to the Scottish committee. At that time, he was not selected for support. His results in the grade 12 national examinations were excellent. He was the top scoring student in Lalibela. Because of this, it was decided to make an exception and give him support at University. He will get 600 Birr (£30) per month for the year. There will also be two, performance related, incentive bonuses, paying up to 600 Birr each.

Destaw is from a very poor family in Debeko, which is 34 Km. from Lalibela. He supported himself through his education by teaching younger children. He hoped to get a place to study medicine, but the Government has allocated him a place at Addis Ababa University to study engineering. He is happy with this.

Unfortunately, he was not here to have his photograph taken, and is now in Addis Ababa. He is absolutely delighted to have been given the support.

Yonas Geamu

yonas-gedamu2009 Age 19 years

Yonas has elderly parents who are unable to work and are therefore unable to support. He completed grade 12 this year and was the top student in Lalibela. He has been allocated a place at Gonder University to study medicine, and our support means that he can take up this place.

It has been agreed to give him 900 Birr every month (£45), with an incentive bonus of 600 Birr on successful completion of semester 1, and another 600 Birr on successful completion of first year.

Sefi Melaku

sefi-melaku2009 Age 18 years

Sefi’s family farm in a village 45 Km. from Lalibela. She has 3 sisters and 1 brother. To support her education, she has worked as a servant in Lalibela. This has given her board and lodgings.

I quote from her application form “It is hard to take pride in a bridge that you can’t cross and in a door that you can’t open. I have nothing to cross the bridge ahead of me and nothing to open the door that acts as the gateway to my
life and economic independence.”

We are opening the door!

She has gained a place at Jijiga University to study Computational Science (Biology ,Chemistry, Physics + teaching qualification). It has been agreed to give her 900 Birr every month (£45), with an incentive bonus of 600 Birr on successful completion of semester 1 and another 600 Birr on successful completion
of first year.

Desta Abebaw

desta-abebaw2009 Age 19 years

Desta’s parents live 40 Km. from Lalibela. She is the second youngest of 5 children. She is a clever girl, but the parents do not have the money to support her further education. She has successfully completed grade 12 and is taking up a place at Debre Birhan University. She will be studying Social Sciences and Humanities.

It has been agreed to give her 900 Birr every month (£45), with an incentive bonus of 600 Birr on successful completion of semester 1 and another 600 Birr on successful completion of first year.

Adane Akanie

adane-akane2009 Age 19 years

Adane is one of 6 children. His family are farmers. His performance at elementary school was excellent and he progressed to secondary school 3 years ago. He was ranked number 1 in grade 9. During grade 10, his mother died and, as his father is old, this put a lot of pressure on him to support the family.

His results in the grade 10 National exam were not good enough to let him progress to grade 11. Last year he joined the Vocational school in Lalibela to study Surveying. He had to drop out as he did not have enough money to pay the fees, or to live. ( I do not have the price of my mouth!) He resat the National exam this year and has obtained high enough marks to go to teacher training college and study for a Diploma in teaching.

It has been agreed to give him 900 Birr every month (£45), with an incentive bonus of 600 Birr on successful completion of semester 1 and another 600 Birr on successful completion of first year.

Mebratu Tsehaynew

MEBRATU-TSEHAYNEW-20092009 Age 19 years

Mebratu’s family live in a village about 30 Km. from Lalibela. His parents are farmers and are illiterate. He is the second of 10 children. His older brother scored high enough grades to further his education, but dropped out as there was no money to support. The parents would like Mebratu to leave school, get married and become a farmer.

Mebratu is determined to succeed. Last year he was successful in getting a place in grade 11 and has managed to complete this, finishing in 22nd. place out of 200 students.

During term time, he stays with a relative in Lalibela. As the relative is very poor, he asked for money to pay rent and to buy food. His ambition is to go to University next year and study Computer Science. It has been agreed to give him 500 Birr every month (£25), with an incentive bonus of 500 Birr on successful completion of grade 12.

Getnet Biru

GETNET-BIRU-20092009 Age 17 years

Getnet is from Lalibela. His father died a long time ago and his mother has been trying to bring up Getnet and his 4 sisters. His mother and the 2 older sisters are illiterate. The 2 younger sisters are attending school. The oldest sister is now divorced and is back living at home with her 5 children.

Getnet, being the only boy, has been taking on responsibility for the family. He has been working as a labourer, in addition to attending school, in order to provide some money for the family.

Getnet has had constant good results from school, but his results from the grade 10 National exams, were disappointing and he just failed getting a place in grade 11. (200 students from 2,000 are allocated places in grade 11). He is still very keen to continue with his education.

It has been agreed to allocate him 500 Birr per month (£25) on 2 conditions. He must enrol and attend a one year course at vocational school. He must resit the grade 10 national exams next June. If he successfully completes the year and gets high enough grades to progress to grade 11 next year, he will be given a bonus of 500Birr.

Tarko Naguse

TARKO-NAGUSE-20092009 Age 19 years

Tarko is from a very poor farming background. The family are unable to support his education. In addition to his studies, he has worked as a labourer to earn enough money to live.

He was 8th. in his class in grade 9 with an average of 65%. Unfortunately his results in the National exams for grade 10 were not good enough to let him progress to grade 11.

It has been agreed to allocate him 500 Birr per month (£25) on 2 conditions. He must enrol and attend a one year course at vocational school. He must resit the grade 10 national exams next June. If he successfully completes the year and gets high enough grades to progress to grade 11 next year, he will be given a bonus of 500Birr.

Eyerus Sisay

EYERUS-SISAY-20092009 Age 15 years

Eyerus lives in Lalibela with an elderly aunt and uncle and their children. Her father died when she was 3 months old and her mother abandoned her when she was 6 months old. She has no contact with her mother. Her uncle is 80 years old and is now too old for labouring work.

In addition to her studies, Eyerus has gone to the hills, collecting firewood to sell, and thus helping to support the family.

Eyerus has done well in the grade 10 National exams. She has achieved a place in grade 11. It has been agreed to give her 500 Birr every month (£25), with an incentive bonus of 500 Birr on successful completion of grade 11.

Baye Tesfaw

BAYE-TESFAW-20092009 Age 15 years

Baye is a clever boy from a very poor farming family. He has successfully completed the National exams for grade 8 and is ready to move into grade 9 this year.

As the family have no money to support his education, money from the fund will give him the opportunity to continue with his studies.

It has been agreed to give him 500 Birr every month (£25), with an incentive bonus of 500 Birr on successful completion of grade 9.

Getanu Getnu

GETANU-GETU-20092009 Age 17 years

Getanu’s parents live and work as farmers in a small village called Koyta which is 2 Km. from Lalibela. They are very poor. His elder sister works as a servant in Lalibela for no pay. She gets her board and keep in return for work. His younger brother, aged 12, is deaf.

When there is no school, Getanu works as a labourer to earn money to help support his family.

Getanu has successfully completed grade 9 and is moving into grade 10 this year. It has been agreed to give him 500 Birr every month (£25), with an incentive bonus of 500 Birr on successful completion of grade 10.