Before Biruk started Girls Gotta Run, she didn’t hear many people talking about the accomplishments or power of female Ethiopians.
“I didn’t get the chance to know about women’s potential,” she said.
Now she’s exposed to an almost daily dose of girl power inspiration.
Biruk, one of the athletic scholars MWAHFE sponsors through the Girls Gotta Run Foundation
The life skills lessons, the practices – and the fun! – she gets through Girls Gotta Run have allowed her to develop friendships, too.
When she’s not running, Biruk’s favourite subject is geography.
She wants to go to university one day, and dreams of being a journalist. She wants to give back to Ethiopia.
“We need to help the rural area.”
Biruk walks about 15 minutes to school every day. She is so thankful to be a part of Girls Gotta Run, where she can count on a healthy snack – her favourite thing to eat after practice is a banana – and running clothes and shoes to help fuel her passion.
“I feel better in my health. I’m getting stronger every day.”
But Biruk loved running long before she became an athletic scholar.
“I love the exercising,” she said. “I feel better in my health. I’m getting stronger every day.”