Success Stories

Tizeta

Tizeta was only 10 years old when she lost her father due to HIV/AIDS. Her mother, who is HIV positive, could not support Tizeta and her sisters as a result of her poor health. The death of her father coupled with her mother’s illness, led Tizeta to a life of misery and left her with little to no hope. "At that dark time my only option was quitting my education and doing some commercial sex work", said Tizeta.

It was amidst this dilemma that Tizeta started to get the support from P2P, as an orphan who lost one of her parents to HIV/AIDS.  The support helped Tizeta to attend school through covering the expenses of school materials, exercise books and other related expenses.

With the support of P2P, Tizeta was able to complete her education and graduate from Mizan-Tepi University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering on June 25, 2015. Tizeta acknowledges that  had it not been for P2P, she would not have been able to have get an education and have a bright prospect.  

Shewataye

Shwataye is a single orphan who has lost his father due to HIV/ AIDS.

He is now a 12th grade student. He lives with his mother and two brothers. He says he likes living a simple life. Before he came to Hiwot Integrated Development Organization, he used to lead an extremely difficult life with very little going for him. He explains “my basic needs were barely fulfilled since my mom was the only one carrying the responsibility of feeding the household and taking care of us. This was very difficult for us.”

He joined P2P Orphan support program in 2007.  “After joining the program, we realized how important it is to stay in school and get education. Besides, we became aware of how to lead our life. I have acquired various benefits from this program. To mention a few; I learnt to give value for important things, primarily giving priority to my education. The psychological guidance has made me strong and given me ability to have objectives in my life. So, leaving the program when I am about to join university doesn’t inflict fear inside me as I am a better person now.”

“First I would like to give thanks to my creator God! Next, I want to thank my mother and brothers. I would also like to express my gratitude to all the staff at HIDO and my P2P sponsors Laura & Dawit who have been supporting me since 2007 and the P2P organization.”

He described P2P “ an organization that rescue peoples’ lives.”

Mekides

Mekides is a 21 years old university student. She lost her mother due to HIV AIDS while she was a child. She was not able to go to school since her father was too poor and could not afford to send her to school. She says “the P2P sponsorship program has made a difference in my life by helping me to finish high school and join university.” Mekides is now a 3rd year accounting student at Addis Ababa University and will graduate at the end of this academic year.

“My heartfelt thank you goes to P2P and everyone at HIDO!”  She described her attachment with her sponsor saying “My attachment to my sponsors was very nice and I love them.

“One thing that comes to my mind when I think of P2P is: we are loved.”

Mekuanint

Mekuanint lost both of his parents at a very young age and was looked after by his aunt who assumed the role of his guardian but did not have adequate means to support his education and his future. He was an avid reader and his favorite subject was mathematics and he had aspirations of becoming an engineer, but his situation made that dream seem impossible. Luckily, when he was 10 years old, Mekuanint started receiving support from P2P and with this backing he was able to stay in school and work towards his dream. That dream was made more tangible when in grade 11 he entered a software competition in which students from 50 different schools in Addis Ababa participated, and Mekuanint placed in 2nd for which he received a scholarship to China.

With his studies in software engineering forthcoming, Mekuanint’s story is illustrative of the power that P2P's Orphan Sponsorship Program has in shaping the lives of orphans and vulnerable children

Wendemagegn

Wendemagegn was born in 1998 in Addis Ababa. He doesn’t know his father since HIV/AIDS took him away while Wendimagegn was a little boy. His mother raised him till he was 6 years old but when he reached first grade, he lost his mother too.  Before her last days, his mother gave him to the care of his aunt where he has been taken care of along with 5 children of his aunt. But she didn’t stay long too; his aunt passed away just a year after his mother death. He says “this was the biggest misfortune of his life.” Eventually, Wondimagegn and his cousins were on their own.

They all tried to get by the best they can and continue their education, but Wendimagegn, the youngest of all, could not get the care and support he needed as a small kid. He was also not getting enough food.

During the summer break after 4th grade, he got sick and got admitted to the hospital. When he got out of the hospital his cousins another aunt Hiwot Integrated Development Organization for support.

Wondimagegn Joined P2P’s orphan Support Program in 2007 and he has been receiving support for 12 years.

“The support I have been receiving have helped me cover my expenses for school, transportation and food. The continued support has also relieved me from so much stress and allowed me to focus on my education.

After 12 years of support, Wendimagegn has now graduated with a diploma in Health Information Administration in October, 2019. He was also lucky enough to find a job and pursue his professional life.

“I would like to forward my gratitude to all working in this program. I feel like next to God P2P is the one to help children who are in need.”

Zeritu Mulugeta

My name is Zeritu Mulugeta, I graduated from Metu University department of Physics with a CGPA of 3.64. I attribute my success to the continuous support I have been receiving from P2P and HIDO.

I joined P2P’s Orphan Support program while I was in grade 6. I lost both my parents while I was a kid and it’s my aunt who raised me up until her last breath while I was in grade 11.

Throughout my school life I have been receiving support from P2P in the form of a monthly stipend.

The monetary support I get from P2P has helped me to access school materials, fulfil my basic necessities (food and cloth). The continuous support has enabled me to give full attention to my education and achieve this remarkable success.

University life hasn’t been easy as I have been far from home, with the political turmoil in the country and the closure of campus following the pandemic which added an additional one year in my study. It’s only 16 students who have managed to graduate with me from Physics department. What makes my success more colorful is being the only one from Physics department who have passed the university’s exam to win the offer to become a lecturer and member of the department. Becoming a lecturer will also grant me opportunities to proceed to postgraduate studies.

I am thankful for P2P, my sponsors and HIDO for being behind my success!