Medea was in the sixth grade, in southern Ethiopia, when her father passed away unexpectedly. As the oldest of 5 children, she had no other choice but to drop out of school to care for her siblings and help run the household. After two years she moved to Addis Ababa to work as a house servant, and eventually, at 17, she moved to Saudi Arabia, sending her income home to her family. Although she was making a better wage working abroad, Medea worked long hours and wasn’t treated well. After three years there, she was relieved to be called to return home to care for her ailing mother.
Saving part of her earnings over the years, she was able to pay for a small 2-room home for her family. After her mother’s health improved, Medea got married and started her own family. She and her husband Mohamed opened a small store, but struggled with skyrocketing inflation. Eventually they had to close the store, with great financial loss, and were unable to support their two children, Hiba and Siham.
Medea then asked the local government for family assistance, and was referred to the Lelt Foundation. Through Lelt, her family receives assistance, and Medea was awarded a micro-loan to start a new clothing business. Her daughter, Hiba, is now eligible for sponsorship through Lelt’s Child Sponsorship Program. She is a top student in first grade at Repi Japan Elementary School. Her favorite subject is math and she hopes to be a doctor when she grows up. If you sponsor Hiba and her family, you will receive updates and photos every two months, outlining her progress.
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