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Face of the Future: Abejech
You know when your name means “I did well” that you’re on the right track. Such is the case for the beautiful Abejech – one of 60 new Grade One students at imagine1day’s brand new Laelay Weste Grade 1-4 Community School. At ten years old Abejech is a bit older than most of her classmates but it doesn’t discourage her. She’s the first one of her siblings to attend school and considering that she’s the youngest out of four it’s a big deal. When we caught up with her on a recent field visit to Laelay Weste we found out what it’s like going to school for the first time and why it’s a heck of a lot more fun than tending cattle…
i1d: Abejech, let’s start with your family…can you tell us about them?
A: I have three sisters. They are all older than me and two of them are married now. We all live here in this community together.
i1d: Did any of your other siblings go to school?
A: Some of them did for a while but not past Grade 2 or 3 because they had to stop. There were other more important things they had to do. I am the first one who is going to school with the plan of staying until I am completed high school.
i1d: So you’re ten years old and are starting Grade One right now – why didn’t you start school when you were younger?
A: There was no real school here and the walk to go to a real one was too far. My parents thought that it was better if I stayed at home and did tasks in the field or in the house instead of sitting in the class made out of sticks. But now with this new school, it is close to home and I can easily walk to school in the morning and then be home in the afternoon to help take care of the cattle.
i1d: Do you like going to school?
A: Yes, I do like it. Sometimes I find it difficult – especially Science because I don’t understand it. But even if it is hard it is still better than sitting watching cows. Even when I don’t understand I am still learning. I know one day I will understand.
i1d: What’s one thing you learned at school today that you are excited about?
A: Today I learned a part of the Tigrigna (regional language) alphabet and am learning more words that I can read each day.
i1d: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: Before I didn’t know. I didn’t really care so much. But now I see my teacher here at my school and I want to be a teacher too. I want to teach other students so they can learn to read and write and speak properly and so that they will be confident.
Abejech has only been in school for six weeks now but is already flourishing. Her teachers say that she is a bright student and has already made marked improvements in her studies. Because she’s a bit older than her classmates they look to her as a role model and her teacher remarks that she is stepping into that role and taking on various responsibilities to lead her peers.
Abejech – she’s one to watch!
To learn more about Abejech’s school, Laelay Weste Grade 1-4 Community School and the work imagine1day has been doing there visit http://www.imagine1day.org/laelay-weste-groundbreaking.htm.
