Zegeye's story

Meet Zegeye. 

He’s one of our Stand by Me kids. He lives in Ethiopia and is a happy bright boy, but things weren’t always this way.

When he was just three years old he lost both his parents and was taken in and cared for by a kind neighbour. Living in a mud hut, caring for Zegeye and three other children was tough for the neighbour as her income was not enough to feed her family.

Zegeye became a shepherd boy to help earn some money and walked for miles each day, barefoot with his feet often cut and bruised. His story is common in Ethiopia as parents are dependent on their children to raise income, often through manual labour. Their children’s time is considered too valuable to be spent at school. 

Free from child labour

Removing obstacles

Zegeye was also living with HIV - another obstacle in the way of his future and education. Like many others with life threatening illnesses, he was living without access to healthcare or adequate food and becoming too sick to attend school. We realised that providing an education for children who were dying from HIV was not enough and that we needed to do something.

With the help of medical teams from the UK, we started a medical programme for our children and their parents to receive treatment, counselling and regular nourishing food. We are giving our children everything they need to fight infections, cope with their medication and attend school regularly.

We are Zegeye's Proud Parents

Zegeye’s personal circumstances meant that he needed care unique to his situation – this child-centred care is at the heart of what we do as we recognise that every child is individual and so are their needs. Through caring relationships, Zegeye experiences God's love, giving him a reason for hope. Today he is happy and healthy, and his future aspiration is to become a doctor so that he can help others in need.