Selam Tesfaye

Selam was born in Gambela and her father died while she was an infant so she didn’t know him, but she heard he killed someone and remains very angry with him. Her mother also died in the year 2000, people have told her because of HIV/AIDS. Her grandmother sold all her mother’s things, leaving them with nothing.  Her sister started to take care of her and other people were also helping; her godmother took her to Addis promising to take care of her as one of her own.

Selam says:  “She has done so many bad things to me I feel very angry when I think of her she has made me a cruel person. I don’t know the love of my father or of my mother but I know about the love of God.”   Selam was also almost raped at age 13.  Selam wants to continue her education but is also interested in being a singer.  She continues:   “I don’t have relatives; the only relative I know is God. He has given me two mothers - they are a gift from the Lord. I love them very much I pray that God hears their desire for me. I praise God for all he did for me.”