Abebe attends 5th grade classes alongside his 10 year old daughter Yenenesh in a school Engage Now Africa expanded last summer; Both study together and are at the top of their class![/caption]
Abebe is a 36 year old father of three living in a rural village outside Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. Abebe struggles to support his wife and three children as a farmer because he only has a 4th grade education. As a child, the only school he had access to stopped teaches classes at the 4th grade. He wanted to continue his education, but the lack of opportunity halted his chance to build a more successful future…..until now!
In 2015 Engage Now Africa built an expansion of 4 classrooms and 6 latrines onto the Tulu Dimtu School. This school expansion enabled the school to increase its capacity and teach students up to the 8th grade. Guess who was one of the first people to enroll in the 5th? You guessed it….Abebe!
After a 15 year absence, Abebe is back in school and couldn’t be happier to sit right alongside his 10 year old daughter Yenenesh. Not only are they in the same class, but they study together at home and are both among the top five in their class!
Abebe says he is “…grateful for being able to continue his education after these all years and want[s] to study business to be a successful business man in his village.” That dream is finally within reach.
Abebe is an incredible example to his children and an inspiration to many adults in the village who are now contemplating continuing their education as well. We are proud to have students like Abebe enrolled in our schools and look forward to watching him achieve his dreams!
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It's Never Too Late
