World Vision has brighten our future

“I used to write two and more than two subjects on one exercise book. Sometimes I used to borrow pen from other students,” Gudaye sadly recalls. 

Gudaye Muche, 18, grade 9 student, lives in Yilma ena Densa district, Damash kebele some 630 km north west of capital Addis Ababa.  Like most children in Ethiopia lack of learning materials and clothing was a problem of Gudaye. Her parents have 9 children; Gudaye is 7th from her siblings. It was a struggle for Gudaye’s parents even to feed their children.

“Even though we send our children to school with what we have, it was difficult for us to fulfill the necessary school materials and clothing. This has affected their performance in the school,” Gudaye’s mother Yezebnesh Mulu, regrettably remember.

It was in 2005 Gudaye joined WV’s sponsorship program. Things become different since that time.  

“I am now getting the necessary school materials and financial support from World Vision. My sponsor has also sent me money in different times. I would like to thank World Vision for letting me get this support,” happily explained Gudaye.  

“Now, thanks to World Vision my child Gudaye is learning very happily.  WV has lightened our burden a lot. We are now allocating what we have, to send her younger siblings to school. She is learning happily. We bought her a land in the town and have deposited the rest of the money sent from her sponsor to let her use it in the future and for her current schooling expenses. I have no word than expressing my special gratitude to WV, My God bless them,” thankfully said Yezebnesh. 

Gudaye likes biology from all subjects. “In the future I would like to be a doctor and support other children who have financial problem, as World Vision has supported me.”

In spite of lack of school materials, Children in Yilma ena Densa district used to learn in an old and dirty class where there is lack of chairs. Gudaye was one of these students.  She expressed the situation before saying, “We used to learn setting in five, which only takes three students. As a result it was difficult for us to focus on what the teacher was teaching. The dust in the class was causing us health problems.”

Melsew Chale is the Vice Director of Densa Bata Secondary School. He expressed the difficult situation before the construction of Densa Bata secondary school saying, “before the construction of this school, students in this area were learning traveling for more than two hours to the neighboring town, Adet. As a result of this, these students especially women were very vulnerable to dangers like rape and abduction. Some students rent a house and learn in Adet town but it was difficult for students from poor family to rent a house in the town. Because of this, students were obliged to drop out.”

In 2010 World Vision built four block classes in Damash kebele. Currently 1007 students are learning in this school. “We are learning in a clean class with enough tables and chairs. We have also got a library filled with very helpful books, World Vision has brighten our future,” gratefully said Gudaye.    

“Thanks to World Vision, the community in this area has benefited a lot from the construction of Densa Bata Secondary School. They are sending their children without any fear and extra expenses, and the level of dropouts has decreased very drastically,” Melsew thankfully expressed.