The final session of Ytesfa Birhan has taken place. We finished with a traditional meal at which each girl was allowed to bring their Mum. Inevitably Aunts and big sisters substituted and accompanying toddlers who couldn’t be left behind swelled the numbers. We were both surprised and thrilled that Meseret’s Mum came (the one with AIDS). She was very thin and her legs were troubling her but she hardly stopped smiling.

Each girl received a package of second hand clothing, a pen, a laminated Bible verse that they had coloured last week and an Amharic Bible with pictures that had been donated. The Mum’s spontaneously gave a slow hand clap as each girl received her gift. 

The gratitude was overwhelming and the cloth swathed relatives conveyed this by handshakes, kisses and bows. The older girls that I have attempted to give some English teaching to, were the last to leave. They all hugged me and said “thank you Chris”. Although the girl who I have found the most challenging hugged me and said “I love you Chris”. Inappropriate maybe in another setting but I understood the sentiment completely.

On another note, Handana (the lady under the bridge) has been given a place to live with her husband along with the lady from the bridge further down the ring road! They will be three of ten who will live together and be given training.

The cost? Handana has had to give up her baby. Something akin to fostering or adoption where the recipients promise to bring up the baby up as their own.

I wonder how she is feeling?