Amina's Journey: From Street to Success

Amin was 8 years old when we found her on the streets of Addis Ababa. She was malnourished, traumatized, and had forgotten what safety felt like. Her mother had passed away, and her father was nowhere to be found. The streets became her home. ## The Struggles When Amina first arrived at our center, she could barely speak. She flinched at loud noises. She had nightmares every night. Her little body bore the marks of a life no child should ever experience. The first weeks were the hardest. Amina didn't trust anyone. She hoarded food, afraid there wouldn't be another meal tomorrow. She refused to go to school, convinced she was too far behind. She believed she had no future. But our team didn't give up on her. Day after day, staff members showed her kindness without condition. They listened to her fears. They celebrated small victories. They showed her that she mattered. ## The Transformation It took months, but slowly, Amina began to smile. She started attending our school programs. She made friends with other children who understood her pain. She began to believe that maybe, just maybe, she could have a different life. Today, at 15, Amina is thriving. She's one of our top students, consistently earning high marks in every subject. She's confident, articulate, and full of dreams. She's healthy. She's safe. She's happy. But more than that—Amina has become a beacon of hope for other children at our center. She shows them that transformation is possible. That a street child can become a successful student. That trauma doesn't have to define your future. ## Her Dreams Amina wants to become a teacher. She wants to help other street children just like someone helped her. She's working hard toward secondary graduation, with her sights set on teacher training college. We believe Amina will achieve her dream. And when she does, she'll change the lives of countless more children. That's the power of education. That's the power of believing in a child when they stop believing in themselves.