Continuing Undergraduates 2013

10 of our continuing students are in the University system this year. The main reason for this is that we are now in our 5th year and our students are working hard, succeeding and moving on.

As all our students are from very poor backgrounds, often with illiterate parents, their success is amazing. They all have a thirst for education and will hopefully have a future very different from that of their parents.

It has been agreed that all these students will get a monthly payment of 600 birr with 2 performance related bonuses paying up to 400 birr each.

Ashenafi Yiman

ASHENAFI YIMAN 20132013 Aged 14 years

Ashenafi’s father died when he was a baby. He lives in Lalibela with his mother who is unemployed and is not in good health. There is no money available to support his education.

Ashenafi is in grade 8 this year and, without our support, may not be able to graduate to grade 9 next year.

It has been agreed to give him a payment of 300 birr per month with 2 performance related payments of up to 250 birr each.

Besfat Bisset

BESFAT BISSET 20132013 Age 22 years

Besfat was born in a rural area outside Lalibela. His parents are illiterate.

He has already completed 2 years at Dilla University where he is studying languages. He has ambition to become a journalist.

Since he was in grade 6 he has managed to continue in the education system by working in a café. In Dilla he works as a waiter in a night club. He is finding it increasingly difficult to continue with his education and has asked for our support.

It has been agreed to give him a monthly payment of 600 birr + 2 performance related bonuses of up to 400 birr each.

Birhan Tesfaye Fikade

BIRHAN TESFAYE FIKADE 20132013 Aged 20 years

Birhan is the youngest of 5 children and was born and brought up in a rural area 42 km. outside Lalibela. His parents and his older brothers and sisters are illiterate.

He completed his primary education in the countryside against the wishes of his family. It was expected that he would do subsistence farming like the others. Against the family wishes, he came to Lalibela for his secondary education. He managed to get work in a tourist gift shop. He got no pay but was given bed and food. This let him complete his secondary education.

This year he has gained a place at Jimma University to study Business and Economics.

It has been agreed to give him a monthly payment of 600 birr + 2 performance related bonuses of up to 400 birr each.

Desta Megistu Tadie

DESTA MENGISTU TADIE 20132013 Age 18 years

Desta lives in Lalibela. Her parents are poor farmers and are divorced.

As the school is only for half a day, she survives by working as a labourer for half a day and attending school the other half day.

She is now in grade 9 and it has been agreed to give her a payment of 300 birr per month with 2 performance related payments of up to 250 birr each.

Habtamu Mesker Afliew

HABTAMU MESKER AFLIEW 20132013 Age 22 years

Habtamu has already completed 1 year at Axum University where he is studying Animal Science. He applied for our support as he was having to give up his studies due to lack of money.

His father died when he was a baby and he, and his sister, were brought up by their mother. She died when Habtamu was in grade 8. Since then they have lived with an uncle. The sister had to give up school and work as a servant in the house.

Habtamu would like to complete his university education and support his sister in returning to the education system.

It has been agreed to give him a monthly payment of 600 birr + 2 performance related bonuses of up to 400 birr each.

Yengusie Mekonen

YENGUSIE MEKONEN 20132013 Age 18 years

Yengusie’s family live in the countryside. She came into Lalibela to continue her education from grade 9. In Lalibela she lived with an Aunt and her family—all in 1 room.

Two Irish tourists met her in Lalibela and funded for her to rent a room of her own to help her study and succeed in her grade 12 national examinations. They also directed her apply for the scholarship fund.

Yengusie has been successful and is now in her first year at Axum University where she is studying engineering.

It has been agreed to give her a monthly payment of 600 birr + 2 performance related bonuses of up to 400 birr each.

Yeshimet Sete Zebegna

YESHIMET SETE ZEBEGNA 20132013 Age 18 years

Yeshimet is the youngest of 7 children. She lives with her family in Lalibela and is presently in grade 10 at school. Her family depend for their livelihood on subsistence farming and have no money to support her education.

It has been agreed to give her a payment of 300 birr per month with 2 performance related payments of up to 250 birr each.

If she succeeds in reaching grade 11next year, she has been promised continued support.

Yonas Gedamu Tesfaye

YONAS-GEDAMU-TESFAYE-20112013 Age 23 years

Yonas has now finished his fourth year of medicine at Gonder University. He is continuing to do exceptionally well in his studies and scored an average of 3.43 out of a possible 4.

He is now doing practical placements in the hospital in Gonder and is thoroughly enjoying the experience.

He will continue to get his payment of 1,500 birr per month.

Adunga Kefyalew Eridie

ADUGNA KEFYALEW EREDIE 20132013 Age 21 years

Adugna is from Lalibela and is one of 6 children. She is studying for a Bsc. in nursing at the Tropical College of Medicine in Dessie and has also just completed her second year.

As the fees are expensive, she asked if we could give some support. The Bude Methodist church agreed to this and she is given 600 birr every month to help with her expenses.

Fund Report 2012

We are now into year 4 of the scholarship fund and it is time for an annual report.

In 2011/2012, we supported 16 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 2011/2012 the equivalent of £4,835 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, to pay 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.

To everyone, please accept my thanks on behalf of the young people here. You are all making such a difference to their lives and their ambitions for the future.

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 to June, Margaret and Maureen in Scotland and to Tefera, Habtamu and Mamo in Lalibela.

My role here has been in ensuring that all the young people get their money every month. Those at University get it paid into their bank account. Those in Lalibela come to collect the money in cash. I feel it is now time to look at a system, which will operate without my direct involvement. The cahier at Ben Abeba restaurant, Tsegenet, has volunteered to take on my role in the system. Both committees have agreed that she will get paid 200 birr (approximately £7) per month for this work. I hope that you are all happy with this administrative payment being made.

Five 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 7 new young people to the programme. This means that we will be supporting 18 young people during 2012/2013.

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.
For the first time we have young people moving into the category of ‘past’ students. In August, most of the students met for lunch at Ben Abeba restaurant. Congratulations were given to those completing their studies. Encouragement was given to those still in the system.

Getenet Biru

graduates-2012Diploma 4, Tour Guiding
Vocational School, Lalibela
2012

Getenet Biru has graduated from the vocational school in Lalibela with a Diploma 4 in tour guiding. He won the prize for the top student in the year. He is interested in using this qualification as entrance to University and has been advised to work for one year and then apply for support with this, if he is still interested.

Getanu Getnu

graduates-2012Diploma 3, Textiles
Vocational School, Lalibela
2012

Getanu has graduated from the vocational school in Lalibela with a diploma 3 in textiles. He is setting up a traditional weaving loom at Ben Abeba restaurant, where he will give demonstrations to tourists and, hopefully, have a market place for his produce.