Do you remember Yabsera, the youngest member of our group home in Addis Ababa? You can learn a little bit more about the story behind our group home here, and see pictures of a young Yabsera.
But now Yabsera – the boys in the group home call him Yabi – is quite grown up! He's 12 and going into Grade 5. On our recent trip to Ethiopia, we sat down for a one-on-one interview to learn about his daily life and his favourite things to do.
And get this – the entire interview was in English! Yabi’s grasp on the language has improved so much since the last time we were in Ethiopia. In school, all subjects except Amharic (the national language) are taught in English.
Read on to find out a little more about Yabsera and what life is like for this 12-year-old boy in the capital city of Ethiopia.
Q: What do you study at school? What’s your favourite subject?
A: My favourite subject is math. I like adding. We also learn Amharic, science, English and math.
Q: Walk us through a day in your life.
A: First, I get up and I wash my face and I eat my food. I go to school by bus. I go to school and I play first. Next, we learn many subjects. In one day, we learn seven subjects.
Q: What do you like to do after school?
A: I study and play football.
Q: What are your favourite foods? What do you eat in an ordinary day?
A: I eat many foods. My favourite food is shiro (a traditional Ethiopian stew made with chickpea flour). [Editor’s note: We also heard from Yabi’s mom that he loves to eat homemade French fries, which in Ethiopia are called chips!] In the morning, I eat bread and honey, and I drink tea.
Q: What about buna (Ethiopian coffee)?
A: I don’t like buna.
Q: What do you like about life in the group home?
A: I am able to learn, and eat my food.
Q: What would you want to say to your Canadian sponsor or the donors back in Canada?
A: To my sponsor, I say thank you, because you are doing for me many things. Canada people, I love you very much.
