For Those Who Wear The Brand
Global Aid Projects

Keleme Egeze Is 30 year old women based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She was attending her mother at Abebech Gobena MCH hospital after she was diagnosed with stage 4 UVP.



Keleme's life has been a daily battle against the challenges that plague her community. The rising cost of living has weighed heavily on her and her husband, making their existence almost unbearable. The birth of their autistic daughter four years ago had only exacerbated their struggles. She had to give up her job as a manual laundry worker to care for her daughter, and the financial strain of providing for her daughter and sick mother intensified with each passing day.

As Keleme shared her story, it became evident that her family and community face numerous obstacles.

Personally, her greatest struggle was the constant care required for her daughter, who needed round-the-clock attention. With her husband working as a daily laborer, Keleme found herself isolated within the confines of her home, feeling enslaved by the responsibility that rested solely on her shoulders. Beyond their household, the community grappled with the same issues ~ escalating living costs and the challenge of providing for their families. Additionally, access to clean water was limited, with it being available only once or twice a week.

Keleme's daily life is marked by sacrifice and resilience. She often goes without proper meals just to make sure that her daughter has enough to eat. When her own resources fall short, neighbors often step in to prevent her daughter from going hungry. Such acts of kindness highlight the strength of their community, even in the face of adversity they all face.

This season has been one of the most difficult times of her life. Because of her mother's illness, she had to leave her daughter in the care of neighbors while attending to her sick mother at the hospital.

But when she was unable to afford her mother's medical expenses, Keleme was stuck in the hospital ~ not being allowed to leave unless she paid the medical fees. The constant worry for her daughter's well-being added to her burden, knowing that her daughter's condition required special attention and care.



After hearing about her story, we were able to pay her hospital bill for her mother's treatment, allowing them both to return home.



Despite all of the challenges she faces, Keleme holds onto hope and dreams she has for herself and her family. Her deepest desire is to be able to support her family adequately, ensuring her daughter never goes hungry.

To cope with the uncertainty and hardships, she finds solace in her faith. Going to church and praying provides her with a sense of peace. She feels that while her situation is extremely difficult, she feels that there are others in the world who face even greater hardships.

While a better future for herself and her community seems far off, Keleme is excited for the possibility of sending her daughter to a school for children with autism next year. This would allow her to return to work, which would greatly help her family's economic condition.

Despite the bleak circumstances surrounding them, Keleme finds moments of joy in her daughter's presence and in the peace she finds in church. These glimpses of happiness help inspire her to persevere and kindle a flicker of hope for a brighter future.