World Vision has shown us the way

Bekalu Berhanu, a 15-year-old boy and a grade-8 student lives with his mother and 3 siblings in Tenta town in Amhara Region, some 430 km north of Addis Ababa. Bekalu joined WV’s sponsorship program some 8 years back following the death of his father. Bekalu is very good at Biology and loves playing football. “When we gain victory over our competitors we celebrate saying ‘Haya Ho…Ho, Mata New Dile’,” Bekalu explains with high energy.

“The support I have got from World Vision enabled me continue my education and my siblings as well. World Vision has been providing me with cloths, educational material, and grains every time since I registered as a sponsored child. Also WV gave me cow as a gift in kind. These all enabled me to continue my education,” said Bekalu. 

Melaknesh Gedion is Bekalu’s mother. She was 22 when she lost her husband unexpectedly. It was very tough time for Belaynesh to manage 3 orphaned children. “Bekalu enrolled in sponsorship program in1999 because he was orphaned. By then I was in a critical condition. However, Bekalu’s sponsor substituted his father’s role and ensured life to continue for Bekalu, his siblings, and me. The support that comes through Bekalu’s name not only benefitted Bekalu, but the whole family and about 10 other households in the community,” said Melaknesh.  

Melaknesh says there has been visible improvement in her family’s livelihood and the community as whole due to World Vision’s development interventions. “There is a huge difference between the time when Bekalu sponsored and today. Now Bekalu and two of his siblings (a girl and a boy) are in school and the youngest is to go to pre-school soon he turns 4,” she explained.

But another unfortunate happened in Bekalu’s life, a sadden death of his sponsor.  “It was very unfortunate and shocking to hear such deplorable news. When we first heard about the death the whole family couldn’t believe. Bekalu didn’t eat anything for two days in grief. The whole family mourned for three days according to the Ethiopian tradition to Bekalu’s sponsor,” Melaknesh explained with sorrow.

Despite the loss of his father and his sponsor Bekalu is confident to achieve what he aspires to see tomorrow.  “May his soul rest in peace. Because of him I have hope. I am confident that I will continue my education and be a doctor,” Bekalu explained with courage.

Because of World Vision and Bekalu’s sponsor the family has been empowered. “I will do whatever I can to make my children achieve what they dream. World Vision and Bekalu’s sponsor have shown me the way. I understand the benefit of educating and caring for children,” assured Bekalu’s mother with hope and confidence.