“Before I came to the project I thought that I would never go back to school.”
Balancing school and work
Abera (pictured above) is 14 years old. Each day, his time is divided between school and work. In the mornings, he attends classes at a Toybox supported project in Addis Ababa, learning subjects like Maths and Amharic. In the afternoons, he sells napkins and chewing gum on the streets to help support his family.
Forced to leave home
Abera was born about 150km from Addis Ababa. His family’s life changed when armed robbers threatened their safety and kidnapped his uncle. Fearing for thier lives, they were forced to leave their home and move to Addis Ababa.
Adjusting to life in the city was difficult. His mother, who cannot read or write, began selling potatoes and corn, while his father looked for daily labour jobs. To help, Abera started working on the streets. For two years, Abera spent his days working. He recalls; “Before I used to work the whole day.”
During that time, Abera believed school was no longer possible. “Before I came to the project I thought that I would never go back to school.”
returning to education
Things began to change when Abera joined an education project run by Toybox partner, CHADET. A member of staff from the project reflects;
"He used to fight with the children and have a bad temper. But now he is the most polite and respectful student we have in our centre."
The programme gave Abera the chance to attend informal classes and return to learning. He shares; “My favourite thing about the project is spending time with my classmates and being free to play as I want. I’ve started learning new things — how to help others, treat others with love and respect.”
Now, Abera’s routine includes school in the morning and work in the afternoon, staying close to his father’s workplace for safety. He enjoys playing games with friends and drawing in his free time. Education has become central to his hopes for the future. He shares; “I want to finish school, graduate and go abroad to help my family. I think it’s better to work abroad to have a better life. If I was the leader of my country, I would focus on helping people who are in most need and children who are kidnapped.”
Abera encourages other children to keep studying and believes education is the key to improving life for himself and his family. He concludes; “If you want to change your life and help your family you have to go to school."
Pictured below: Abera participating in a classroom activity at the education centre in Addis Ababa.
