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

 

Desta Hagos Geleda

Desta is excited to go to high school because, “I used to have to help my parents on the farm before I was allowed to study. School was always second to working at home. Now when I go to high school I will be able to study whenever I want to. School will be first and I can give all my energy to it.”

 

Name: Desta Hagos Geleda

What her name means in Tigrigna (local language): “Happiness”

Gender: Female

Age: 14

Birthday: (DMY: 14/11/1989 EC)

Hometown: Gratserhi, Tigray, Ethiopia

Current elementary school: Gonka Grade 1-8 Community School

Distance between hometown and nearest high school: 18 km

High school she is attending: Esra Adi Secondary School

Academic record: Desta was one of the top six students from Grade 1 to Grade 8. In Grade 8, she was ranked 6th and had an academic average of 76.9%.

Favorite subject(s): Physics

Extracurricular activities and leadership positions in Grade 8: member of Student Parliament, Chairperson of Girls’ Club, Vice Chairperson of Literature and Drama Club, Secretary of Culture and Sport Club, member of the Pedagogical Center Club, member of Anti-HIV/AIDS Club, Classroom Monitor.

Challenges encountered during elementary school: “I have always struggled to pay for school materials like a pen and notebook. I also find it difficult to study a lot because we have no electricity and no candles at my home so once it becomes dark I have to stop reading. My parents are elderly so over the past few years my responsibilities at home have increased as I have taken over the tasks that they can no longer do. Sometimes I find it challenging to balance working at home and completing my school work.”

In 10 years Desta wants to be a pilot because, “my favorite subject is physics and it is very applicable to flight. I also want to travel and see different parts of Ethiopia and the world. I want to meet new people and try new things.”

Favorite quote: “The wise one is the one who learns from his mistakes.”

Role model: “Marta – the famous Tigray People Liberation Front fighter who sacrificed herself so that the TPLF could be victorious. She was brave.”

Favorite celeb: Keneneesa – the famous Ethiopian runner

Hobbies and interests: I love making up and performing dramas with my friends.

Family: “We have 11 people all together in my family. I have five sisters and three brothers. I am the fifth child in our family and I will be the first to complete high school. One of my brothers made it to Grade 10 but then he failed and had to drop out. Neither of my parents went to school. My parents work hard to farm our ¾ hectare piece of farmland.”

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

What her father, Hagos, thinks about her having the opportunity to go to high school: “I remember all of the work that Desta has done. My wife and I have been sick a lot recently and Desta has been both father and mother to her siblings. She showed us how hard she can work and I know she will work even harder when she gets to high school. It is her dream and I am thankful she has the opportunity to have this dream realized.”

What her homeroom teacher, Zewodu, is saying about her: “Desta is a role model in our school, especially for the female students. She has strong views about issues like early marriage and because she is confident in her ideas she has interceded for many girls and prevented their early marriages. She is very creative and produces great dramas for her classmates. She is always helping her peers and teaches tutorial classes for the girls on the weekend. She has played a large role in bringing girls onto an equal footing with boys in our community.”