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Gifti’s story
Protect the family, protect the future
Mulu Getachew didn’t have to take in Gifti’s pregnant mother. She had no connection with Mulu’s family and Mulu was already struggling to bring up her own children in one small room in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. But Mulu decided to care for the woman in her final weeks of pregnancy anyway. And when Gifti’s mother sadly died in childbirth, Mulu wanted to look after the baby and offer her a home, a family and a happy childhood. Now Gifti is 14 and Mulu is the only mother she’s ever known.
At EveryChild we know that the care and security of a family makes all the difference to a child’s chances of having not only a childhood, but a future. When EveryChild’s local partner saw that Mulu was finding it hard to provide for her family, they stepped in and offered her some support.
Now Mulu receives an orphan support payment every month to help her care for Gifti. A further monthly payment is made to a savings account for Gifti to access when she is older. Training and a livelihood loan have enabled Mulu to start up a vegetable stall, boosting the family’s income.
For Gifti the most important change is being able to go to school regularly. Before Mulu found it hard to find money for the school uniform and materials required to send Gifti to the local state school. EveryChild’s partner provided what the family needed and now Gifti is enjoying getting the education she deserves. She says, “I like school, especially maths.”
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