imagine1day is a growing, global community of people making passionate contributions to ensure every child in Ethiopia receives a quality education.

 

Birhanu Beirau Berha

Birhanu is excited to go to high school because, “I will have the freedom to study and learn instead of constantly working for my family. There is electricity in the town where I will go to high school so I will be able to study at night. I am looking forward to using the school’s library because there will be many more reference books for me to use to expand my knowledge.”

 

Name: Birhanu Beirau Berha

What his name means in Tigrigna (local language): “Light”

Gender: Male

Age: 14

Birthday: (DMY: 17/01/1989 EC)

Hometown: Serneba, Tigray, Ethiopia

Former elementary school: Gonka Grade 1-8 Community School

Distance between hometown and nearest high school: 18 km

High school he is attending: Esra Adi Secondary School

Academic record: From Grade 1-8 Birhanu was first in his class. In Grade 8, he had an academic average of 94.5%.

Favorite subject(s): English

Extracurricular activities and leadership positions in Grade 8: Chair of the Student Parliament, Vice Chairperson of the Sports Club, Vice Chairperson of Environmental Protection Club, Chair of Civics and Ethics Club, member of Anti-HIV/AIDS Club, member of Literature and Drama Club, member of the Pedagogical Center Club.

Challenges encountered during elementary school: “My parents are old and I often must miss class to help them work on our farmland. I am the leader of my household and so I have many responsibilities at home. We have nine people in our family so there is never extra money for books. I struggle every year to purchase a pen and notebook for school. Once my parents brought a girl to me that they wanted me to marry. If I married her I would have had to drop out of school. Obviously I refused her.”

In 10 years Birhanu wants to be a doctor because, “many Ethiopians are sick and their poor health has a negative impact on our growing economy. I want Ethiopia to be a self-sufficient country. To have that we need a healthy population.”

Favorite quote: “Be careful what you say. Days will pass but harsh words spoken will stand forever.”

Role model: “Christopher Columbus because he risked a lot and explored new lands and discovered new parts of the world.”

Favorite celeb: Tirunesh – a famous female Ethiopian runner

Hobbies and interests: “I love running. I run 100m, 400m and 800m races and I am the first in our school’s cluster and in the Woreda. I enjoy teaching other students gymnastics and coaching soccer.”

Family: “There are nine people in my family – my mother, my father, my five brothers and my sister. Neither of my parents have gone to school but one of my brothers is studying in Grade 10 – I am looking forward to joining him at high school. We have ¾ hectares of farmland that we farm but because there is not a lot of water we depend entirely upon the summer rainy season.”

Family’s skills for potential income generation activities: animal fattening, animal breeding, raising and selling chickens.

What his mother, Azmara, thinks about him having the opportunity to go to high school: “Seeing him be given this opportunity makes me realize the impact he has made on his school and community and the potential he has to influence many more people. He is such a hard worker in our family. He has set goals for his life and if he works as hard at high school as he has worked in our home then I believe he will achieve his goals. He will be able to help himself and create his own life that makes him happy.”

What his homeroom teacher, Zewodu, is saying about him: “Birhanu is a role model and exemplary student in our school, our community and in our Woreda. He is a great athlete and an excellent student. Sometimes, when we have a shortage of teachers in our school he will teach his peers. He is known for his creativity and curiosity. He is very caring and one of his talents and passions is teaching our students with special needs.”