Etalem's Family

With no home of her own, Etalem has been sleeping outside the entrance of a building.

At just 14 years old, she left her rural home and traveled to Addis Ababa seeking medical treatment. Over the next 20 years, she worked in various households doing childcare, cooking, and cleaning—often under difficult and abusive conditions. When Etalem became pregnant, the child’s father refused to take responsibility and abandoned her.

Today, she and her young son sleep on the porch of her brother’s apartment—a space that is unsafe and exposed. Despite these overwhelming challenges of homelessness, rejection, trauma, and financial hardship, Etalem is determined to give her child a better future. She does not beg; instead, she sells roasted corn on the street and washes clothes to provide for herself and her son.

Monthly sponsorship will provide Etalem’s family with holistic support such as food, housing, medical care, spiritual care, counselling, education, health and life skills training, income generation and business development opportunities. Being part of HFK’s Family Empowerment Program will also give this family an opportunity to participate in many of our youth, daycare, education, and community programs.

Current Need per Month $260: Sponsor $260 per mo.| $130 per mo.| $65 per mo.