2009

Two of the Youth Center students who are introduced below have just passed the very rigorous 12th grade national exam and will be eligible to attend university in Ethiopia in the fall.  This is a fantastic accomplishment; we couldn’t be prouder!

2008

In 2008, ten students from the Youth Center passed the very demanding tenth grade national exam; five entered pre-university preparatory school and five registered in technical, vocational and educational training schools.  Congratulations!  Please meet two of the students who passed the tenth grade exam with very great distinction:

Sixteen-year-old Etenesh Wonde lives with her mother and her younger sister; her father died over a year ago.  Although everyone in the family works (Eteneh, for example, braids hair after school), Eteneh and her sister worry a lot about their future.  Etenesh has been a regular at the Youth Center where she has worked hard.  She has served as a teacher’s assistant and helps the younger children with studying and other advice.  Etenesh and her family were ecstatic when they received her national exam result.  Etenesh’s dream is to attend university and then be able to support and educate her younger sister and care for her mother.  She thanks the Youth Center for supporting her and contributing to her formal school performance.

Eighteen-year-old Bereket Muluneh lost both of his parents to AIDS and has lived in one of Hope for Children’s group homes with his brother and two sisters since 2003.  Although he missed several years of school, he has persevered and passed the tenth grade national exam with flying colors.  After successfully completing per-university preparatory education, he hopes to study civil engineering.  He also speaks of his hope to establish his own family which will help his siblings and him forget their lost parents and enable them to feel secure about the future.  He thanks his teachers at the Youth Center for all the help they have provided.