Tower and Town, October 2021 (view the full edition)Asfaw YemiruAsfaw Yemiru was born in the area of Bulga 75 miles south of Addis Adaba. He was one of 11 sons born into the family of a village priest. When Asfaw was 7 years old his father took them on a journey to Addis Adaba. The boys were all confirmed as deacons of the Coptic church. Soon after Asfaw arrived back home he decided to return to Addis Adaba to gain an education. After a few days he arrived at the capital and took refuge in a church yard where children were sleeping. By day he went out into the city begging for food and work. An Armenian woman passing by dropped her shopping. He ran forward to help her collect it. She decided to offer him work which he did. After a short while she paid for him to go to school where he learned Amharic and English. This helped him to attend as a boarder an English run school, the Wingate School for boys where he could sit his O levels. He then won a scholarship to Wingate School. Once in the school Asfaw found left over food was burned or buried and he begged the headmaster for orphans to be given the scraps. From then onwards any scrap food was given to the children outside the school gates after every meal. Asfaw worked hard at his studies but could not forget the plight of the orphans. After school he would go into the church yard door next and gather together groups of orphans to teach them English, Maths and written Amharic. He was given an old blackboard and chalk to aid his work. A large number of children came to his school and Asfaw was able to collect enough money to put a shelter on the wall of the churchyard and paper and pencils. When Asfaw finished school having gained his O levels he decided to carry on with the school for orphans which he set up in the churchyard He flung himself before the Emperor's car and begged for money and land on which to build a school for the orphans and poor children. The school was built from money donated by the Emperor, foreigners he had come into contact with and Ethiopians. Asfaw decided to make sure his pupils did not live in the churchyard and instead were cared for by Ethiopian families. To make sure the children stayed at school he gave the carers help with food. The children also learnt to grow vegetables and care for animals. Sometimes as many as 1000 children went to his school which became the best in Addis Ababa. In 2001 he was awarded the Worlds Children's Prize. His work has become well known. He died on 8th May 2021 and his school goes on. Vera Hamblin |