As a child, I was raised by a single mother who had seven young children to care for with very little money. At the age of five, my mother decided it was time for us to be re-united with our father for the first time. He was residing in Sudan. Once we arrived in Sudan, our father decided to take us away from our mother. We went from living with a single mother to living with a single father. I grew up not knowing what it’s like having both of my parents.
In 1990, we came to America, but my mother stayed behind. It was devastating for me; I didn’t understand why my mother couldn’t come with us. A year later, I found out my mother died from unknown illness. I was in shock, in disbelief that my mother had passed away. I kept telling myself “she didn’t die.” It was a difficult losing my mother at 11 years old. To this day, a part of me is still in denial that my mother is dead. I tried to remain positive, reminding myself that I was fortunate to have a father, and siblings which kept me grounded. Coming to the United State gave me chances that not many Ethiopians in Ethiopia have. I graduated with a degree in Mass Communication and by completing my education I realized that the sky is a limit. In 2001, I won the USA version of Miss Ethiopia. Winning that title gave me recognition and fame amongst the Ethiopian community.
In 2008, I had the opportunity to visit Ethiopia after 25 years. While I was in Ethiopia, I visited an Orphanage ran by “The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Child and Family Affairs Organization”. There, I met 126 children. They looked so happy and grateful for what little they had. I spent time with them and through their stories I got to know them. The children were sleeping on spring beds without mattresses. They would go some days skipping meals. They didn’t have soccer ball so they had a homemade ball out of socks that they kicked around bare foot. The director told me, the orphanage does not have the budget to buy soccer balls or shoes. The girls didn’t have the simplest hygiene, feminine products. The simplest things that we take for granted in America are considered luxury there. I went around and asked the children what they wanted, and almost every child said they were happy that they had shelter. They didn’t want anything. I asked the director of that orphanage, what is their favorite thing to eat, he said, they never had chocolates or any type of candies for that matter. So I announced to all 126 of them, that I have bought them candies. They all screamed and clapped in happiness. Some of the smallest things like candies that in America we take for granted are luxuries to these kids. I was amazed by how contented the kids seemed despite having so little. To have the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia and see and feel the pride and joy these children have was an incredible experience. I feel so blessed to have found these kids. Helping these kids makes my life richer and happier.
Visiting the orphanage has made me realize that I have a lot of work to do and a lot of hope to give. Now I am back to the U.S. and working hard to create awareness of what these deserving children and millions more are going through in Ethiopia and around the world.
18 Comments
Hey ma sister I really love your idea as Ethiopian , I live in USA va I live with ma dad n ma step-mom am 17yers old when I grown up I want to be a lowyer or a doctor and my other hobby is to be a girl like u I really Need to help popel n old woman n man I want to do such kind of helping n sheering with ppl let my God be with u I wish u all the best,and at the last what can I do to be a person like u? Plc Sis if u can answer me thish question as soon as u can, keep In touch I luv u!!!
Hi Lidiya, thank you for your comment. I see you growing up and doing what I am doing. You are a humanitarian at heart. To do what I do, all you have to do is be you and follow your heart. If you want to help people in need, never hesitate just go for it ok. Never question anything, just do it. Keep in touch and I will guide you. Thanks
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After reading this, It has made me feel so special young lady to have a mother. Many people dont have a mom. We still all have our moms no matter what, either alive or passed away! I have a special friend. His name is Lamont. His mother passed in August of 2010. Pray for him.
Hi Darneisha,
Thank you for commenting. I will pray fro your friend Lamont. Yes we all have mothers no matter what. i feel that I am a mother to all of the kids that i help.
really its great thing zat ur doing God Bless u!!! in ma mind i had a question who is she? ……. but now i got the answer. tnx for sharing us ur experiences. I grew up wiz ma mam and have similar story wiz different version ….so if i can get a chance to contribute in ur activities am so happy u can inbox me how can participate ma dear!!
Thank you Abenezer. You can help by spreading the word and letting your friends come and visit this website and spreading the word. Of course you do many more to help. One of them is to donate so I am able to continue my work in Ethiopia. Thank you betam…
you are inspiration to anyone that has dreams, and goals….powerful!
Thank you so much….
Sister, thanks for having the courage to share the story behind the crown. It has been such an inspiration to see how you have overcome so many barriers and to witness your successes in reaching orphaned children in need. Your sensitivity to their needs it what drives this great organization, and it is what will keep it alive. When people are born here they are automatically given a head start in many areas, but as you can see, it is so easy to live a life that is void of the joy that you experience when you are helping the children. For you, for everyone, I don’t ever want to see that end (so let’s start giving more $$$, this is my sista yall). May God bless you and keep you forever in His care!!
Hey Sariye, I really do appreciate all of your support and love as always. For being such a loving and caring sister with an equally big heart. Thank you for everything….
HI HI Zewdi how r u ? am happy by wat u r doing n i really really like ur activities first i wanna say u GOD b with u in al ur steps forward n then i am interested too in helping ppl specially children by naw am in Ethiopia from Eritrea so i want u to tell me where the foundation is .. so that i can do wat i can in my way am interested ppl like u …. GOD BLESS U MY DEAR…
Mostly, what we go through in life might change the way we see and do things. it can be good or bad, But it a blessed people like you to take that experience in to positive and dedicate their time money to change others life. you are great inspiration.
God bless you.
Solomon, yes we have the power to make the negative into positive. The sad face into a happy face. We just need to look deep inside of us and reach find that love that God has instilled in us. Thank you.
God Bless You and everything You do!
It’s really a very nice gift to see someone like u doin’ such kinda thing in life.I would like to say that may GOD be with u all the time to keep up with what u r doin’ and i would also like to say to the ppl of this world to be part of this.God bless u.
hi my name is lili i move back to Ethiopia from us after 14 years and i have always a plane to help kids i see a lot of rich ppl here in addis and they way the live and ignore the problem we have in Ethiopia it make me sick but i am so proud of you for doing this u lift Ethiopia very young age but u have a big hart to do this for ure ppl ure mom will be so proud of u believe me she is watching down on u keep ure head up sister…..anytime ure back to Ethiopia please contact me i am here to help and valuator for u
I am so proud of u yene konjo .u are just an amazing women, I personally like to help ppl and are willing to participate in any of your activity if u want me too. GOd bless you u did a very owesome job . Keep up with all the good and blessed works!!!!!!! Much luv
Thank you,
As a child, I was raised with family 12 young children.
you talk about mama I just lost my mom,
how is very hard in foreigner country especially if you are new,
I will share with you. you are so kind.
you make me cry ,you an amazing and kind.
we proud that we are so kind Ethiopian.
My name is Gezahgn Wordofa, and I was born in a small village called Doukem, Dalota out side doukem. which is just outside Addis Ababa – the capital city of Ethiopia. I come from a “small” family of eight brothers, and four sisters – I am one of the youngest. When my wife and I celebrated our wedding in Ethiopia a few years back, we had over 1,000 guests – and that was only half of my family and community (I also had another cousin who was getting married on the same day!) My mother just just passed , on one of our farms in Doukem. It is because of her life’s example, that I have a strong faith in God and give my life to helping others in need. Even to this day, she always ensures that people surrounding our farm have work and food, collected from the year’s harvest. To everyone in our community – she is simply known as abaye, “mother”.
As for myself, I earned a scholarship to study in Russia for university. There I completed a degree in Agriculture, and then continued on to complete a PhD in International Relations. The focus of my study was the plight of refugees – and the impact that they have on the countries that take them in. I have visited or worked in 52 different countries, and have spent the last 19 years working in Russia with refugee families. There I also expanded my work to include orphan and street children, and any other person in need of help. As a result of my work there, I was honored with the title of Goodwill Ambassador for Peace.
Today when you hear different story , and kindness , hard working and giving for needy , it brought a tear to my eyes. I remember a time back in 2000; I was trying to collect food for refugees and orphan children with the help of my friend Michael, who was the general manager at one of the big hotels in Moscow. We set up a brunch.– with one big difference. When people started arriving at the hotel with their donations of food, the Russian security refused them entry or told them that they were at the wrong hotel – all because I had refused to pay the security their “share” of the event. Over 500 people were invited, and the only ones that made it through were a handful of Canadians who very smartly had brought the food in bags with the Canadian flag on them. The security thought that they were foreign guests of the hotel and let them all in – no questions asked.
And you may ask what happened to all that food the hotel had prepared for our breakfast guests? We quickly got the refugee, homeless and orphan children who were waiting for this donation, out side. dressed in some t-shirts Coca-cola had donated to us. We snuck them in through the back door of the hotel. The children were so very happy that they were able to have a good hot breakfast. However as a result of the day’s events, my friend at the hotel had lost his job.
But this story does have a happy ending too for Michael. Even though he lost his job in Moscow, he was blessed with a new job – a position as head chef for a very famous actor in Hollywood – where he continues to help children.
Living and working in Russia, one is continually faced with challenges and set backs. Many a time, just as we were making progress in helping the refugee families and children, something would happen – a library of children’s books packed up and taken away or a racially driven fatal attack on an Afghan colleagues. But through it all, what always inspired me was the generosity of some every day expat friends who believed in what we were trying to accomplish, and always found new ways to help.
I would like to thank you for your time and sharing with you.
You are a good Example. It is such a pleasure and an honour to be part of community where faith and kindness is respected. Unfortunately this is not always so in the world, but if there is one thing that I have learned, it is that with a little faith – faith in others, faith in a cause, faith in that we all have our own purpose in life, faith in something bigger than ourselves – anything in life is possible. We are all pieces of one large picture – and through simple acts of kindness and faith, we can all make that one picture a reality.
Miss Zewdi, said
we have the power to make the negative into positive. The sad face into a happy face.
Good calling for everybody.
Thank you.
you are inspiration to anyone that has dreams, and goals….powerful!