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

 

Nigisti Gaile Weldegebriel

Nigisti is excited to go to high school because, “I want to continue learning. When I go away from home I will have more time to study because I will have fewer distractions and responsibilities. The only reason I am going to high school is to learn so I know I will focus and do well. I am also excited because we don’t have electricity here so it is hard to study at night. In town there will be electricity so I will be able to study a lot more."

 

Name: Nigisti Haile Weldegebriel

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

Gender: Female

Age: 14

Birthday: (DMY: 12/02/1989 EC)

Hometown: Atsbery, Tigray, Ethiopia

Former elementary school: Tsehafti Grade 1-8 Community School

Distance between hometown and nearest high school: 42 km

High school she is attending: Adigudom Senior Secondary School

Academic record: From Grade 1 – 6 Nigisti was the top student in her class. For Grades 7 and 8 she was ranked 9th. Her Grade 8 academic average was 82.3%.

Favorite subject(s): Biology and English

Extracurricular activities and leadership positions in Grade 8: member of Student Parliament, member of Art and Sport club, member of Civics and Ethics club, member of Girls’ Club, leader of Art and Culture Club, Classroom Monitor.

Challenges encountered during elementary school: “When I was in Grade 5 my parents took me out of school because they didn’t have enough money and wanted me to work. But I knew I could do both so I left and went to Quiha (32 km away) and worked as a housemaid to make money and I went to school at the same time. I did that for two years but I got raped by a man in Quiha and became pregnant. I came home to have my daughter. I returned to school last year.”

In 10 years Nigisti wants to be a doctor because, “many people in Ethiopia suffer from HIV/AIDS. There must be a cure and I want to be one of the people who works towards finding it.”

Favorite quote: “Tolerance is the wisdom of hope.”

Role model: “My mother because I had my child when I was so young but she took care of her so that I could keep coming to school. She has made it possible for me to continue my education – it wouldn’t have been possible without her.

Favorite celeb: Tirunesh – a famous female Ethiopian runner

Hobbies and interests: reading

Family: “I grew up in a family with 7 children. I am the second youngest. Only one of my siblings went to high school – my brother. Today he is studying engineering at the Mekelle Institute of Technology. I live by myself now and I support myself by cooking and washing clothes for different teachers at the school. They pay me and they also let me share food with them.”

Family’s skills for potential income generation activities: dairy farming, poultry

What her brother thinks about her having the opportunity to go to high school: “I saw how many students dropped out after Grade 8 because of the different challenges that are involved with continuing on to high school. This is a special opportunity for my sister as she can complete her education. Going to high school will help her to advance her towards achieving her vision for her life.”

What her homeroom teacher, Berhe, is saying about her: “Nigisti is a very patient, clever student. She serves her peers and her teachers and is always going out of her way to help others. She is cooperative, a peacemaker and she studies harder than any other student at our school.”