It really felt like a home to us having lost our parents and we were frightened to leave and scared about what would happen to us.

You can't imagine how we felt, two orphans and no longer with a place to live.We felt all alone and unwanted and could not imagine our future. My aunt tried to take responsibility for us but she was very poor and had bad living conditions. It was hard for her. She took us to the school and when I started to tell my story to the headmaster, he took me to a place called Kidane Mehret Children's Home in 2006.

Kidane Mehret’s principle is an incredible, kind-hearted woman called Sister Lutgarda. She told me and my brother to come and eat all our meals there every day. This became the foundation for our lives and I now regard Sister Lutgarda as my second mother. After two years, I got into BTO which has changed my life totally. I am so grateful for Sister Lutgarda’s help and introducing me to BTO.

Now my sorrow has turned to happiness. I have everything I could ever want or need. BTO gives me a food allowance; school materials, takes care of my health, and we even celebrate public/national holidays together. BTO even furnishes my home – changing it from being cold and damp and very uncomfortable to a beautiful palace which I could never have imagined.Now I can focus on my education.

Thank you for all your kindness and support BTO. Your love means more than anything for me and for all of us Thank you to all staff - Fikerte for your touching and changing counselling and Japi for your time and respect you showed us.

I love what I have and I respect all staff and rules of BTO. I can promise to all that I will study hard, get into university and take the highest position in the country and work with BTO.

This is my vision.