More About Medhin
Medhin Tsegay Zewde
Medhin is excited to go to high school because, “there is electricity at the high school and in the town so I will be able to study all the time – even at night. There will also be many students from different communities. We will be able to share ideas and study techniques so that we can all do better in school. I think it will be fun.”
Name: Medhin Tsegay Zewde
What her name means in Tigrigna (local language): “Medicine”
Gender: Female
Age: 15
Birthday: (DMY: 01/12/1989 EC)
Hometown: Mendae, Tigray, Ethiopia
Former elementary school: Abreha Atsbeha Grade 1-8 Community School
Distance between hometown and nearest high school: 18 km
High school she is attending: Wukro Secondary School
Academic record: Medhin was one of the top six students in her class from Grade 1 to Grade 8. In Grade 8 she was 4th in her class.
Favourite subject(s): Biology and English
Extracurricular activities and leadership positions in Grade 8: Member of Student Parliament, member of the Science Lab Club, Leader of Peer Group Education, member of the Athletics (Track and Field) Club.
Challenges encountered during elementary school: “The challenge I faced in elementary school was not having enough time to study because there is no electricity in my home and we cannot afford candles. So I have to try and study during the day but I also have to help my family at home so sometimes I run out of time.”
In 10 years Medhin wants to be a doctor because, “I want to alleviate people’s pain and make them happy again. There are many sick people in Ethiopia but their problems seem simple. If they had a doctor then they wouldn’t be in pain anymore and they would be better.”
Favourite quote: “Look before you leap.”
Role model: “My brother because he is supporting me to continue my education. He always encourages me to do well in my studies. He works in construction and finished school up until Grade 10 but encourages me to make it through Grade 12 because he says that then I will have more choices for what I can work as after.”
Favourite celeb: Haile Gebreselassie
Family: “I am the youngest child in our family. I have four older brothers and sisters. My family believes that education is very important. My sister is in Grade 11, my brother is in Grade 12 at a technical school and my other brother finished Grade 10 and is now in the army. My family uses the Safety Net Program so my parents work in exchange for food. We also have a hectare of land that my father plows and plants. My responsibility is to take care of our guava trees and then sell the fruit when it is ripe.”
Family’s skills for potential income generation activities: Micro-irrigation to grow vegetables like onions, tomatoes, lettuce and carrots.
What her father, Mulugeta, thinks about her having the opportunity to go to high school: “I was thinking about her future and wondering how it would be possible. Most of our resources are already going towards supporting her older brother and sister in school so we don’t have much to give to her. I want her to go to high school so that she has freedom in her life. This way she will be able to choose what she wants for her life. It is important to me that my children have a choice.”
