GlobalGiving Scholarship Program

Report on activities between September – December 2011

NEW SCHOLARSHIP BENEFICIARIES

Over the reporting period and with funds from GlobalGiving, Pathfinder International has chosen two new girls to be beneficiaries of our scholarship program in Ethiopia. These girls will be assisted for 21 months and will receive 3,318 ETB (approximately $192). Below, please find brief profiles for the two girls who were selected in the last four months.

Mahfed Yeshigeta is 18 years old and blind. Her mother is deceased and her father is a farmer living in the remote area of Tegulate. Mahfed came to Addis Ababa to live with one of her relatives and go to school. Her relative has since died and Mahfed was left with no support for her education or livelihood. In order to eat and pay for her school fees, she had few other choices but to sell lottery tickets. During this time, Mahfed had a boyfriend who was also blind, and due to a lack of awareness about reproductive health and related safety precautions, Mahfed became pregnant and now has a son. Her boyfriend has denied that he is the father, and offers no support in raising the child.

As life for Mahfed became more and more challenging, her school teachers considered her situation and recommended her for GlobalGiving scholarship assistance. She has now been a beneficiary of the program since October 2011 and is in the 13^th grade at the Menilik secondary school.  Currently, Mahfed is eagerly pursuing her education, “I feel like I was born again and it is my renaissance, because I very much feel courageous and confident that, I would join the faculty of law and get graduated so as to advocate for gender equality in the near future.”

Alemnesh Kassa was born in the Amhara region of North Wolo, in the district of Raya. Her parents are farmers and have 5 other children who do not attend school. Alemnesh, fearing that her fate would be the same as her brothers, decided to go to Addis Ababa to live with her aunt and get an education. Unfortunately, her aunt was killed in a car accident, and Alemnesh was left with nobody to support her.

Despite Alemnesh’s struggles, she has always stood 1^st in her class. Her school, understanding her problem, recommended her for the GlobalGiving scholarship assistance. She is currently in 7^th grade at the Kedamawy Menelik primary school.  Alemnesh said, “this financial assistance, would inspire me more, and keep me up stand 1^st all the way until I complete my university education, and I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the GlobalGiving for the scholarship support they have provided me.”

• GG_Scholarship_Report_12_29_11.doc (DOC)