March 13, 2023
By Tabi Gebre Hiwot
Los Angeles, California
“Bulgaria Embassy?”, asked my Feres* driver, as I entered his unusually spacious and spotless vehicle. “Yes, near International Laboratory”, I replied reading my notes carefully. It was the morning of January 28th, and I was eagerly heading to the students’ day festival of Fregenet Kidan Lehitsanat School.
Once assured that we would get there by 9 am, I relaxed in my seat and complimented my gentle and friendly driver, Said**, on his car. “Ah, the credit goes to my little girl”, he smiled. “Whenever my friend who drove a similar car came to visit us, she used to say, ‘Baba, I’m going to buy you a nice car just like this’. I’ll never forget her excitement when I finally purchased this … ‘I got you the car!’”, she jumped. “Yes, you did!”, he beamed with pride and affection.
We arrived on time and with no difficulties. Everyone in the area seemed to know the school and directed us to it with full confidence. At the gate, I was greeted by Elizabeth Asrat, the cofounder, and Financial Officer of Fregenet Foundation, dressed in a beautiful traditional dress. I was pleasantly surprised to enter the newly acquired compound where the festival was taking place. It was near the existing school, which I had the pleasure to visit three years ago. “This is indeed a very significant day”, I said to myself. We were on the grounds of what shall become the next phase of Fregenet Kidan Lehitsanat School (FKLS).
The white tent, adorned with balloons and banners gradually filled with friends and families. Once the show started, adorable little girls and boys, dressed in blue and red uniform, took the stage holding signs that expressed gratitude and hope. In Amharic they read, “We thank you for your support”, and “We see a new vision at the new compound”, just to mention a few. Their spoken and sang words also echoed the same sentiment.
These young students, their age probably ranging 4 to 6, performed with amazing skill and discipline beyond their years. Their talents ran the gamut: they recited poetry, acted in short drama, sang solo, and so on. One student named almost all of 54 African countries! They also sang and danced in groups, dressed in various traditional outfits, with contagious energy that moved the entire audience. Their classmates, who were with us in the audience, danced and sang in the isles, in sink with the performers.
The event that especially tugged at my heart was what followed next. Wondered where the sudden ruckus towards the back of the tent was coming from, I turned to look and saw a bunch of teenagers or young adults hugging, kissing each others’ cheeks, and slapping each others’ backs with excitement. It was the graduates, the first batch of Fregenet School from 2004, who had just arrived. The principal of the school, once their kindergarten teacher, who’s now much smaller than all of them, invited them to the stage. They each spoke about how the school, their teachers, and their friendship changed and transformed their lives. Moved to tears, I witnessed the fruits of FKLS, what it has accomplished and will continue to, in the years to come. FKLS is a work of love for Tafesse and Elizabeth, whose partnership and devotion has been admirable. Over the years, I have watched them work hard, run Marathons, and hold numerous fund-raising events, inspiring and inviting many of us to dream along with them. It was truly an honor to celebrate with them this big milestone.
I had a chance to share the story of FKLS with Said, who was visibly moved. A different story of a father who also made his daughter’s wish come true and is changing the lives of many sons and daughters. “This is a special place; wish it well and tell others about it” I said, as we arrived. “I feel blessed that I got to start my day with this ride”, he replied. “Selam waayi”… “Selam waal”, we parted. Go in peace.
• Feres is a ride share service in Addis Ababa, similar to uber or Lyft in the US.
** This is a made up, but similar to the name he gave me.