For years, he supported his family as a mill grinder — an exhausting and hazardous job that exposed him daily to dust and debris. With limited access to healthcare and little awareness of eye care, he ignored the persistent pain in his eyes, hoping it would pass. Unfortunately, it did not. In his early thirties, Azmeraw lost his eyesight completely.
Even before this, he carried another burden. Having missed out on education as a child, he was determined that his children would not face the same fate. He had even enrolled in school himself, attending seventh grade alongside children less than half his age, driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of learning.
Finding ways to keep going after losing his sight
Losing his eyesight did not diminish Azmeraw’s determination, but it severely limited his options. When he returned to his workplace seeking reassignment, he faced hesitation and stigma. Eventually, he was given a position assisting a warehouse guard — a role with far lower income, barely enough to cover food.
With three of his children in school, Azmeraw struggled to afford basic supplies such as notebooks, uniforms, and pens. At times, he resorted to begging near churches to meet these costs, an experience that left him feeling humiliated and deeply anxious about the future.
“I feared my children’s education would end the way mine did,” he recalls.
His story reflects a broader reality across conflict-affected parts of Ethiopia. Displacement, loss of livelihoods, disability, and disruptions to education combine to push families into extreme vulnerability. According to the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, more than 5,500 schools nationwide have been forced to suspend teaching due to conflict and other shocks, putting thousands of children at risk of dropping out permanently.
Getting help when it mattered most
In 2025, Azmeraw was selected for support through SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia’s Building Beyond Conflict (BBC) project, designed to assist children, young people, and caregivers across conflict-affected communities in North Wollo and Waghimra zones. The project aims to directly support nearly 30,000 people, addressing urgent needs through education, child protection, livelihoods, mental health and psychosocial support, nutrition, and multi-purpose cash assistance.
Through the project, Azmeraw received funding to meet immediate household needs and purchase school supplies for his children. For the first time, they had a complete set of materials — a milestone the family had never achieved before.
Beyond financial relief, the support gave Azmeraw confidence that his children could stay in school.
Learning as a source of strength and hope
Despite losing his eyesight, Azmeraw has not abandoned his own learning. With assistive devices and disability-specific tools, he continues attending school, even as accessibility challenges and stigma persist.
“Learning helped me overcome psychological distress,” he says. “It helps me stay connected to others and show my children that education is worth fighting for.”
His determination has inspired his children, who now attend school with confidence and the materials they need. At home, his wife contributes through a small income-generating activity, selling water and boiled beans. Together, they are exploring additional livelihood options that suit Azmeraw’s abilities and allow the family to move forward with stability and hope.
To respect the person’s privacy, their real name has not been used.