Helmy and Shelley’s first day in Soddo (after the early morning race in Arba Minch) was a special time with two mothers and their daughters who are in the Girls Gotta Run Foundation (GGRF) and the GGRF Mothers Groups.
The story behind these mothers and daughters is long, and when Shelley first met them, they were in a very desperate state. Over the past five years, the mothers have become able to support themselves and their daughters, their health is now good, the girls were accepted into the GGRF program at an early age at our request and are being educated, fed and their confidence is building.
The mothers are in the Mothers Savings Group and have learned so much. One of the mothers told us that she has never belonged to any social group or had friends. Now, she feels supported, knows she belongs somewhere and understands she and her daughter have value. Another mother explained that she had never been taught how to be a good parent. Through the teachings in the GGRF Mothers Group and watching how others were caring for her daughter, she realized she needed to do better. She and her daughter now have a much better and loving relationship. She said that in the past no one ever thought she and her daughter would accomplish anything and now she knows they can both accomplish a lot.
When the mothers were recalling their past, the desperation, helplessness, stress and pure emotion was palpable - even listening in a language Helmy and Shelley don’t understand. The mothers and young girls were in tears sharing the desperation of that time in their lives. An individual donor from Mothers with a Heart for Ethiopia, MWAHFE as an organization, and Girls Gotta Run made these outcomes possible. Change does not happen overnight, but hearing where these families are today - and looking back to when Shelley first met them - was very emotional and made the trip to Ethiopia all worthwhile.
