For a young boy who had just moved to Addis Ababa, the lifestyle of the youth in the big city was very confusing yet tempting.

Sheleme was brought to the city by his eldest stepbrother for a better chance of education but was quickly lured into a life of gambling. Sheleme became one of the youth in the community who got what they wanted by fighting and threatening whomever got in their way.

His stepbrother got him enrolled in one of the best schools in the neighborhood, thinking that he would be influenced by the students there and realize that the lifestyle he was slowly being pulled into was not a good one.

However, concentrating on his education became very difficult as Sheleme’s name was constantly on top of the school’s black list. He got into daily conflicts with teachers and students because of his rebellious attitude, and this further aggravated his lack of interest in his education.

“I needed acceptance from my teachers and my friends at school. The way I interacted with them and my behavior at that time made it impossible for anyone to accept me. Deep down I felt like nobody wanted me there. So I was very angry and rebellious, which put pressure on the way I feel about my education.”

It was during the time when Sheleme was confused and the bad habits were taking control of his life that Mrs. Zewde, his stepbrother’s landlord (who later became the director for Nefase Silk Mekane Yesus Church Student Center), took him to the nearby church to get him registered in Compassion. She knew the program would provide for the young boy and be a good influence on him.

For 9-year-old Sheleme, the church environment was a totally new experience that he slowly came to enjoy as the center staff paid attention to him and encouraged him.

“Even when I joined Compassion, I never let my guard down and fought with every one whom I thought was against anything I said or did. But gradually, I was won by the concern of the center staff. Of course, there were many times I was given a warning for not attending and for fighting, but they still cared about me and that was all I wanted.”

Even though the change in his behavior was gradual, Sheleme started to mix well with others. The faith the staff and his sponsor had in him concerning his academic performance triggered a desire to do well in school.

“I always got the lowest grade from my class, but still wanted to get the reward the center prepared for outstanding students. Even when I ranked 74th, my sponsor used to write me that it was good. When I passed to grade 8, I made a decision to prove that I can indeed do well in school.”

He scored well on his 8th grade national exam and became one of the top-ranking students in his class. However, even though he was making progress academically, Sheleme was finding it hard to separate himself from his neighborhood friends and from the habits he had practiced for a long time. As a result, his attendance at the center lessened day by day.

To entice students like Sheleme to spend more time at the center, the staff provided table tennis so that children would want to spend more time there playing with their peers. Sheleme started to spend a considerable amount of time at the center.

“Initially, I came to the center to learn how to play table tennis so that I can make some money out of it. But later, as I’d spend almost the whole day at the center, the singing and the word of God I heard at the church made me want to attend the programs.”

Yet as he was straightening out his life, a conflict arose at home that led him to move out of the house and start living on his own. With the support of Mrs. Zewde, Sheleme easily adapted to his new lifestyle and continued to progress academically and spiritually.

“The counsel I got from Zewde, who is like a mother to me, is what helped me be who I am today. She helped me see that if I work hard today I would be a great person tomorrow and achieve my dreams. She used every opportunity to keep me away from my friends who were bad influences on me and give me advice on life. She instilled in me the desire to pursue my education and told me to never lose sight of my purpose.”

Supported by the center staff and energized by the encouraging words of his sponsor, Sheleme became a model student both academically and spiritually at the center. Although Sheleme was not able to score the passing grade for preparatory education, he graduated with honor from Selam Technical College in General Mechanics and continued studying for his first degree in Mechanical Engineering.

“Of course, I was a little disappointed for not scoring a good grade at the 10th grade national exam, but God planned something else for me. After graduating with honor in General Mechanics, I was truly surprised to be accepted at the university to do my first degree in Mechanical Engineering. It was all God.”

Sheleme received a scholarship from the university when he was a second year student. While studying at university, he continued to be active at his church, leading the youth choir and participating in different activities at the center until the time when he decided to leave.

Sheleme is currently employed in an organization that specializes in importing spare parts for heavy machinery.

Sheleme finished his first degree in 2000, but he didn’t stop there. With many visions for the future, Sheleme continues to study for another degree that he believes will help him accomplish the desire God put in his heart to be a Christian leader who will bring change to his church, community and nation.

“I was happy to graduate but I still didn’t feel content. The lack of good governance and shortage of Christian leaders in the country always prompts me to do something about it. Therefore, I decided to first equip myself and study Leadership and Development. I believe that if my country finds a great Christian leader, we would become a great nation.”

In addition to striving to be a great leader, Sheleme is involved in organizing other Compassion program graduates from all over the country who have a vision to give back to children in need.

“My vision is to help children get an education and give them a chance to change their life and achieve their dreams. There are currently 12 of us and we have started providing for one child whose parents were unable to send him to school. We provide school materials and pay his school fees. For next year, we plan to help more children get education.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today had it not been for the persistent follow-up of the center staff, especially Zewde. My sponsor has also played a great role in building my confidence to try harder academically. Compassion has been a means for me to realize the purpose God ordained for me. I feel like I am just beginning to live and there is a lot I have to do and contribute.

“God willing, my ultimate goal is to be a Christian leader that will influence so many for the betterment of my country. Until that time comes, I will continue giving back and helping the children that are facing the same challenges I faced years ago.”

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

The idea for the center began in 1989 through the initiative of Gezahegne and other church leaders who discussed various options to evangelize in the community. After these many discussions, Gezahegne says, “We agreed that Compassion would be the best method.”

At the time, Compassion required only three people to start a child development center – an accountant, a social worker, and a director. Gezahegne’s accounting experience prompted the church elders to invite him to that position.

After Gezahegne’s initial work as the center accountant, he was approached again by the church elders to become the center director.

As Gezahegne reflects on the impact of his program, he says,

“When I was a child, my friends and I had no direction or guidance growing up. Here at Compassion we fight to protect the children from negative influences, and we give them support to continue their education.”

This academic support for the children comes in the form of tutorial classes and money for school fees and materials, including clothing. However, the program also provides for their physical and spiritual needs as well; Compassion gives grains and other food stuffs, hygienic materials, and provides summer and Vacation Bible School and Bible studies for the children.

The child development center is located in one of the poorest communities in Addis Ababa, near the city dump where many beggars reside, pilfering through the garbage to get food.

As a result, the center organizes monthly family meetings where they distribute food and other materials as well as conduct Bible studies and educate families on how to care for themselves, their children, and how to effectively use their resources. Gezahegne says,

“We not only change the lives of the child, but also we change the lives of the family. We educate them [Compassion-assisted families] about not going to the dump and not begging; we support them and encourage them to work hard.”

Even though Gezahegne’s job as director keeps him busy with many administrative tasks, he still makes sure he has time with the children.

“Because I live in this community, children and their families come to my house if they need assistance.”

In addition to home visits by the children, Gezahegne and his staff also make a point of visiting the children’s homes to observe their home life.

“We not only take care of them here at the student center, but we go to their houses and ask their families ‘Where do they sleep? What do they eat? How is the communication between parents and child?’”

Much of Gezahegne’s work is that of a social worker, in counseling and giving advice to the children. Some of these children’s problems occur in the form of abuse; Gezahegne is called to minister to these special needs of the children.

“All the children respect me as a father. When they have particular problems, things they can’t share with others, they come to me – especially the teenagers. Stepfathers, brothers, and even high school teachers abuse these children and they come to us. We listen to them because they need someone to listen to them. In my trainings, I have learned to listen and ask few questions.”

After providing a supportive ear as they confide in Gezahegne, he then talks with their families and friends to come up with a solution together. “I ask the children, ‘What is your suggestion for a solution?.’”

While Gezahegne and other staff members have a significant impact on these children’s lives, Gezahegne also mentions the huge impact of the children’s sponsors. Of these people who touch the lives of children thousands of miles away, Gezahegne says,

“Sponsors do a great job supporting the poorest of children. From their own lives, they share with the children, and with their families.”

As the child development center director, Gezahegne witnesses the huge change in children’s lives when they begin a sponsorship program.

“When children get support, they begin coming to Sunday school and they have good hope. But when the support is stopped, the children become gamblers and beggars; they go back to the dump and stop going to church.”

Most importantly, however, the children relish the letters from their sponsors. The sponsors touch the lives of the children by encouraging them to keep up with their studies and remind them of their goals and promises they’ve made for the future. Gezahegne agrees,

“The words of the sponsors in the letters are words of encouragement for the children – a source of hope.”

As Gezahegne thinks about the center’s future, he dreams of networking with local governments and other organizations to better care for the community’s children.

“We have the opportunity with these children to effectively support and train them to become church leaders to continue the tradition of training more youngsters.”

One way he hopes to achieve that is by creating more awareness of how to better support children by communicating with churches and partnering with the government and Addis Ababa schools to cooperatively work at improving the lives of the city’s children.

But for Gezahegne, Mekanisa Addis Kidan Child Development Center has already achieved success. To date, Gezahegne reports that 109 children have been baptized in the program and these children have since become leaders in various church ministries, members of the choir, and lead Bible studies.

As these children come to know the Lord, Gezahegne says their lives are visibly changed.

“Their behavior changes within their families, the child evangelizes in the family – leads prayers over meals; their communication and interaction with friends and family changes. Even teachers in school notice behavioral changes in children since they’ve learned about Jesus. “The works are small, but the harvest is big. We planted some seeds and when you take care of them, they becomes beautiful flowers.”

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates