I live with my mother, my two younger sisters and a brother. My mother makes a living by preparing ingredients for making Tella (tradional home-brew beer) and sells them. When I was in 7th grade my teachers encouraged me to start running. And looking at the famous athletes in Ethiopia made me want to be a successful athlete. Then I started training in Jan Meda three day s per week. Then two years ago I joined a club found in Addis called Lemlem Club and trained there for six months before I joined Team Tesfa club.

Amsal Tesfaye Kelemwork, Age 18, Grade: 8th Field: 1500-5000

I came from Gondar about four years ago with my grandfather so that I can attend school in Addis and left me to stay with some friends. At the school where I learned, there was a yearly running competition. Once I stood out 3rd and my teachers encouraged me to keep on running. Even though I was not as serious as I am now about my trainings, the dream of being a good athlete came to me. Eventually I was forced to stop running and do household chores. I left the house and started working at a small café. I used to run in the mornings and go to work in the afternoons. Currently I'm living with three of the Team Tesfa sponsored athletes.

Derartu Teshome Adugna, Age 17, Grade: 6th, Field: 1500-3000

I came from an Oromiya region called Tulu Bolo with my aunt so that I can go to school 7yrs ago. I'm in 6th grade and attending a regular school program. I started running back in school. Then I joined a running project for youngsters in Jan Meda and trained there for two months. Then I joined Lemlem Club four years ago. I have 12 brothers and two sisters back at home.

Worke Motuma Ijeta, Age 18, Grade: 10th, Field: 1500-5000

I came from an Oromiya region called Semen Showa with my aunt so that I could go to school. I used to live peacefully with her up until a disagreement occurred between my aunt's husband and me. I had to leave the house and fortunately an old lady who was our neighbor told me I can stay with her and help her with house work. After some time the lady I lived with sent me to live with her brother. He was old and needed assistance at home. After some time he got married and his wife didn't want me to be at the house. I had already joined Team Tesfa club. So when I was kicked out I started living with the other girls in the club. I'm in 10th grade now. I took the national exam but couldn't achieve the point to join university. I'd like to take the exam again to achieve the point for university. I'd like to be a teacher in the future.

Fikre Mekonnen Belete, Age 18, Grade: 9th, Field 5000-21000

A friend of mine who used to live in Addis took me to Addis Ababa so that I can start working as a maid. I used to live with my parents. Then my father died. I had two brothers and four sisters. One of my sisters lived in Addis. Back in my home town they were going to wed me when I was 10yrs old, so I had to leave and come to Addis looking for a living. It's been 8 yrs since I started working as a maid. It's been 4yrs since I started running. Some day I'd like to join a higher institution and study technical education and/or become an electrician. My best distance is the 10K.

Tsege Sebsibe Wondifraw, Age 18, Grade: 6th, Field 1500-3000

I was born in Woleta, Oromiya region, and grew up in Shashemene with my grandmother, aunts and uncles. I came to Addis four yrs ago. I started running five years ago but then my family was not happy with me running. I moved out and came to Addis to live by myself. I worked as a waitress for a while and then as a maid. Then I started working for Team Tesfa which helped me concentrate more in my trainings. I want to be able to write drama scripts and be able to perform in a drama.

Asqual Haile Meressa, Age 17, Grade: 9th, Field 1500-3000

Came from Tigray, Housen, a couple of years ago so that I can stay with my aunt to help with house work and go to school. I have four sisters and three brothers back home. I lost one of my sisters last year to a heart disease. I was one of the top students at my class. At one time I lost the 2nd rank academically to an athlete in my class. I had better points in all subjects than her but then I found out that she got the extra point for being an athlete. Then I started running and attending in races held in the school. My teachers encouraged me to keep it up. So I did. Then my aunt gave me the ultimatum of choosing between running and school. It was difficult for me to choose. We had a fight and I had to leave. Then I joined the Team Tesfa club and started living with three of the team girls. Currently I'm working as a waitress in Team Tesfa Café as a waitress.

Diribe Dufera Legesse, Age 18, Grade: 8th, Field 3000-5000

I came to Addis six years ago from a town called Wolega, Oromiya region, so that I could work and support my family and me. I have four sisters and five brothers. I started working as a maid in Addis. It has been two years and a half since I started running. All I wish to be in the future is a successful athlete. Currently I'm working as an assistant cook at the new Team Tesfa Café.

Zebider Belachew Yirdaw, Age 19, Grade: 10th, Field 1500-5000

I came from Arusi, Oromiya region, seven years ago. Back in my home town I used to live with my parents and I had four sisters and three brothers. My mother died and it was a lot of work for my father to support all of us. One of my elder sisters brought me to Addis so that I could go to school. I was learning and participating in many kinds of sports. Unfortunately my brother-in-law was not happy with me being there and we started quarrelling a lot. My sister gave me a choose between going back to my father or working and supporting myself. I moved out and started working as a maid. Then I joined the evening class. It has been about two years and seven months since I started running. I will be taking national exam by the end of this year and would like to join the university and study natural science.

Meseret Birhanu Asfaw, Age 18, Grade: 8th, Field 3000-5000

I came from Semen Showa with my uncle to learn in Addis. I joined extension school program and started running. Then my uncle told me to stop running so that I could help him more at home. My cousin used to run with me and we lived in the same house with my uncle. He didn't ask him to stop running but only me. Then we started quarrelling. I left and started working as a maid and do laundry, baking injera in my spare time. Then one day my employees told me that I can no longer work there because they had relatives from the countryside who could help them with work. I went out that day and had to spend the night on the street. The next day I found a job in a small café as a waitress. Then I joined Team Tesfa and started living with the three girls.

Bekelech Shiferaw Jelide, Age 18, Grade: 7th, Field: 5000-2100

I came from East Showa, Chefe Dosse, Oromiya region with my aunt who didn't have children. She wanted to raise me as her own. I had five brothers and one sister back in my home town. Unfortunately, my aunt passed away after some time. Then I started working as a maid and joined the extension school program. It had been four years since I first started running. But working and going to school and running was getting difficult for me. I had to quit school and running in order to keep on working. And I had to stop running for 3 to 4 yrs. I think education is important in life and would like to be a scientist or a nurse in the future.

Aberash Girma Balcha, Age 18, Grade: 8th, Field 1500-3000

I used to run when I was in Arusi but my parents didn't like it. They only wanted me to pursue my education and become someone. All my three sisters and three brothers were all good students. I asked my school coach to convince them. He tried but my father wouldn't budge. Then my coach got transferred to Asela. I saved some money and went to stay with him. I stayed with him for two months. Then I went to one of my sisters who lived in Addis. Things were not convenient. After I stayed there for five days I went back to Asela and then back to my mother. My father was not happy to see me and we were quarrelling often. So I went to Addis to live with my other sister. I stayed with her for some time but had to move out and started working as a maid. Now it's been two years since I came to Addis and I'm still working as a maid.

Genet Asmare Mengistu, Age 16, Grade: 3rd Field 5000-10000

My cousin brought me to Addis from Wollo, Lasta, Amara region so that I can work as a maid. My mother was weak and couldn't support us all. I have one sister and one brother. It's been six years since I came to Addis and started running three years ago. My best distances are 5 and 10ks. I started running to gain a new life and all I want to be is a good athlete.

Hawi Sirunessa Tura, Age 17, Grade: 9th, Field 400, 800, 1500

I came from Wolega with my uncle so that I could go to school. I'm still living with him, working in the house and attending evening school. My best distance is 1500.

Workinesh Midekesa Tuf, Age 18, Grade: 5th, Field 5000-10000

I came from Ambo with my aunt eight years ago so that I could go to school. I started living with her and helping her with work at home. She let me join an evening school program and train in my spare time. My aunt had lots of children and there was a lot of discord in the house. I left the house, rented my own house and started living with my friend, doing laundry and working as a house maid. I had to quit school several times. I don't go to school now, and I train in the mornings and work in the afternoons. I believe my best distance is 10,000m.

Merron Malede Bogale, Age 19, Grade: 6th , Field 5000-10000

I came from Gondar eight years ago by myself so that I could work as a maid and make a living. I started running four years ago. I had to quit running three years ago and started again after a year. Now I'm living with my brother, cleaning and cooking for him. I had to quit school because I couldn't pay for my tuition fees. I do laundry whenever I have time to make money. My dream is to be a successful athlete.

Eden Gebrhana Admase, Age 15, Grade: 6th, Field 3000

I used to live with my grand mother in Arusi. My parents used to quarrel and when I was born my father gave me to my grandmother. It has been two years since I started running. I came to Addis to live with my parents and so that I could go to school. My parents were not happy with me running. I left home and went to live with my aunt. My aunt was covering my transportation cost to trainings, but my parents refused to pay my school fee for the extension program. All they wanted me to do is to attend the regular school program which is during the day and which is for free. Then I joined Team Tesfa athletics club.

Asnakech Chala Gudeta, Age 20, Grade: 5th, Field 10,000 and 21,000

I came from Wolega on my own nine years ago to stay with my uncle who lived in Addis. After a year I joined the extension school program. I also started running seven years ago. I stayed with my uncle for six months and started working as a maid. I have two brothers and three sisters. All are living in the country side of Wolega. My dream is to be the best athlete in Ethiopia. It has been six months since I joined the sponsorship program in Team Tesfa. Being in the program has helped me to improve my time in running and attend my school properly.

Gete Dagnea Tesemma, Age 16, Grade: 10th, Field 3000, 5000, 1000

I came from Kobe when I was three years old with my father. He brought me to Addis and left me with relatives. I grew up with them and attended the regular school program until 10th grade. I took the national 10th grade exam but couldn't get the points to join universities and learn for free. My relatives do not have money to have me attend any kind of private education. I started running seven years ago and joined a club to run professionally four years ago. If I get the chance I'd like to attend any kind of technical higher education. I believe my best distances are 3000 and 10,000 meters.

Hana Ahmed Awaji, Age 16, Grade: 10th, Field 3000 and 5000

I was born in Elibabor, Gore. I don't remember when I came to school because I was little then. My mother brought me to Addis because she had Assam and she needed a change of climate. I started running when I was in school but started running professionally three years ago. I believe my best distance is 3000 meters. If I get the chance, I'd like to learn the English language and how to operate computers.

Team Tesfa is organized by Dana Roskey, Executive Director of The Tesfa Foundation.

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