Student stories

Introduction

What follows are short biographies of a few of our hundreds of scholarship students; all selected on basis of need & vulnerability by our Ethiopian partners EYES.

From selection throughout support, we aim not to be judgmental. Whilst there may be cases of parental/family irresponsibility, what do we know their pressures? Should children suffer for their elders lack of love or care? We have few fathers, and some who are there suffer acute behavioural problems often due to maltreatment whilst imprisoned during the Marxist regime. Cultural norms may not be ours, but we do not consider it for us to criticise.

Street life

Young boys and girls often work as street traders, shoe-cleaners or lottery sellers to help pay for their (and their whole family’s) upkeep & school costs. With no room, life on the streets is not easy. Few choose to become street children, it has its own stigma. Experience has taught us that sadly long-term street children are very difficult to help; are often damaged beyond our capacity to assist.

But we still have unsponsored students needing sponsors

All our children were locally selected through the relevant involved bodies, often abandoned, orphans and/or disabled with little or no support. From experience and as policy we are not able to accept children selected from any other sources. For more information, please go to our web-site's FAQ.

As you read this, try not to be angry or upset; these are all true stories and may touch your heart. But these youngsters are strong and not looking for sympathy, only that fair chance which we try to give through our care and continued educational support. Each student is an individual, none are “typical”, yet their one common factor is that each of them, but for their A-CET scholarship, would most likely have left full-time education for an uncertain bleak future of continuing poverty and exposure to possible exploitation. We know what our scholarships achieve - is to radically change these youngsters lives. A-CET support gives them a sense of self-worth, and hope for a better brighter self-sufficient future.

Africans are not afraid of hard work, are inherently intelligent and have enquiring minds.

Proudly going to school

Student monthly "pay day"