“Imagine1day has created a conducive school environment which has given me the morale to do better in my education after 20 years of being a dropout,” says Feusedin Kedir, 48 years of age, and previously out of school; enrolled by Leaders Educators and Parents (LEAP) project of imagine1day.
Feusedin is a father of nine who has been living in the Homa Biftu community. He dropped out of grade eight to attend spirituality studies. He got married and he didn’t get the chance to go back to school no matter how interested he was in completing his education.
Feusedin says, “I know there is no change without education and I badly wanted to attend school ever since I had completed my spirituality studies. However, I was unable to do so because I had to give priority to my kids. In addition to my responsibility to put food on the table for my family, everyone’s attitude about me getting back to school at my age was discouraging. They all said ‘How on earth do you think of going back to school? You better forget it and focus on your kids’ education.‘ This negative attitude had the power to hold me back up until imagine1day came into my life.”
Awareness creation about the value of education and out-of-school children enrolment are parts of LEAP projects focus areas that have changed attitudes towards education for good in the Homa Biftu community. Feusedin didn’t waste time to snatch up the opportunity that found its way to him. He got back to school in one of LEAP’s target schools, Homa Biftu primary school.
“I have gained a lot from being in school with my six kids; I am preaching that at the mosque, at weddings, and in mourning places. We do have a study schedule and I support my kids so much that all six are ranking students. I am also the 3rd ranked student in my class. I am proud to be able to be a role model. Thanks to EAC and imagine1day my patience has paid off. I once again can’t thank EAC and imagine1day enough for enabling me to live my dream,” says Feusedin gratefully.
Stobreka says, “I am a proud daughter of my dad. He likes education a lot, he is a clever student and he supports me and my siblings a lot. He let us revise everything we have learned in school per our schedule daily. I have promised him to rank first next year and I am studying hard. I want to be a doctor and make him proud.”
English is Feusedin’s favorite subject, and he wants to be a teacher when he completes his education.
Feusedin says, “imagine1day has provided our school with adequate reference books that have helped us to supplement what we learn from our textbook. I believe I will be a teacher and contribute my share in eradicating illiteracy from my country.”