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Bimrew Debashe – a young man with disabilities going his way

Bimrew and his sister Emaway are in sponsorship since August 2014 and so therefore one of the first sponsorships for HOPE at all. Both of them are handicapped sitting in a wheelchair. They were abandoned and left alone by their family and we found them begging on the streets of Lalibela. Starting with sponsorship we did sent the 14 and 16 years old siblings to school and Bim did brilliant in great willingness, intelligence and motivation to learn. His idol is Stephan Hawking and once he likes to become a scientist. For us Bim & Emaway are showing at it`s best a sponsorship does really open up living perspectives and future for socially deprived and disadvantaged people. Great Thanks for the sustained support is going to the sponsors Stephan Laudien and Uwe Witzel!

Link to pictures of Bim & Emaway https://photos.app.goo.gl/vVicitKRyrXnv47W8

During summer holidays 2018, Bim was on training course  at Addis Abeba and we `ve been told by him he doesen`t want to come back to Lalibela due to the worse living conditions for handicapped people. He reported  being willing to extend his stay in Addis Abeba as long as his savings about 7000 Birr from selling in the tourist shop will last. We are absolutly surprised about this news of Bim showing us his enormous courage, vigour and self-confidence. On our demand he is closely describing his situation and giving us a clear insight how hard it is for handicapped people in a wheelchair to get along in Lalibela already because of the mountaiside and real heavy roads - for handicapped people in a wheelchair  a huge obstacle and hindrance concerning mobility in daily life concerning all needs and obligations including his daily way to school. So therefore the pusher coming out of poorest circumstances himself and giving support could hardly take the the 4 kilometers way to school daily – at least he did not hold on the job and quit. Leading to missing days at school first of all Bim was strucked by physical disease and backpain. Housing in Lalibela did go along with big problems about barriers and hygienics. His landlord did not have any understanding or idea about everyday challenges of a handicapped person in daily life.

In Addis Abeba Bim did find solutions for handicapped accessibel kind of living. He told us about his privat school having a transport  and about his flat sharing with a friend and offering him good hygienic standards about daily care, relieving himself and humane conditions. Clearly he listed up his financial costs about 105 Euro monthly. :“ My monthly expense here in addis is 60 for food purchase, 30 euro for rent house and 15 euro for school fee. I study in CISTERCIAN MONASTERY MARIAM TSION PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND PREPARATORY CATHOLIC SCHOOL. This school found in Bole.“ Des Weiteren schrieb Bim: “ I have no other choice, this is the only way I can continue my study. Three times a week I talk to Emaway by phone, so I can know her welfare.“  A real lucky coincidence makes it now possibel for Bim to stay longer and going to school in Addis. A Patron family was found donating in one a bigger amount of money to support people sustainable on their way in life.

Ferdi Reul, our head of association, thought right away about Bim when he was told from Johanna about the generous Patron family in Bavaria- to him and to all of us active for HOPE this seemed to be matching. After some team discussions of HOPE and interchange with Bim the sum of 2000 Euro from the patron Johannes and Maggi was paid in to Bims new banc account in Addis Abeba. Now it`s only up to his own responsibility to manage his money for living and studying in Addis Abeba. Furthermore he knows we can not make promise about finding a new patron giving him financial support for continuing his living and studying  in Addis when the money is finished. Currently Bim is joining 9th class, in september 2019 starting 10th class, 2020 autum beginning with grade 11 and after finishing 12th grade in july 2021 he wants to start with studying nature-or social science at university  in october 2022. That time a scholarship might be sensefull and sustainable. Bim is willing and knows clearly about his way- no doubt and we are happy he can make it. Amazing great thanks to the patron family in Bavaria giving Bim the chance going his way by generous financial support. The support only makes this possibel! Thanks and Praises!

For his sister Emaway there is sustainable support going on with the existing sponsorship. Eshetu recently helping our association at place, did find a pusher for her until end of class. Then we look for a new living place close to  the school so therefore she is no more 4 kilometers on her way to school in the wheelchair. New housing for Emaway has to be without barriers like many steps from the street to the house. Fortunatly she has a girlfriend now caring for her a making her daily life with handicap easier in Lalibela! Bim and Emaway are contacting reglularly by mobile and we are happy both of them are so strong in character and personality.

Coming from the streets of Lalibela- studying in Addis Abeba today