Astede is a 15-year-old girl attending primary school in Aziba Elementary School, located in Sekota Town, Ethiopia. Due to her disability, Astede experienced isolation and was often not allowed to leave her home. She attends school irregularly and has repeated grade 8. Her mother feared for her safety and worried about the challenges she might face outside. As a result, Astede felt helpless and ashamed, and she was unable to play or interact freely with her peers.
Astede was selected as one of the girls to participate in life skills training organized in the kebele. At the same time, her mother, Asefu Abeje, was invited to attend Positive Parenting Without Violence sessions conducted by Save the Children under the project Joining Forces for Food Security and Child Protection in Emergencies.
Initially, Astede’s mother refused to participate in the sessions. However, after continuous encouragement from the facilitators and Astede’s teacher, she accepted the invitation and began attending them.
Both Astede and her mother actively engaged in their respective sessions. Through the knowledge and awareness gained, her mother gradually developed a better understanding of her child’s condition. She became more confident, accepted her daughter’s disability, and started to support her inclusion.
As a result, Astede’s situation began to improve. She gained confidence, felt more accepted at home, and started to engage more freely in social activities. The combined impact of the life skills training and positive parenting sessions contributed to positive behavioral change within the family, promoting Astede’s well-being, dignity, and participation.
‘’Before the training, I stayed at home and felt ashamed to go outside or play with my friends.”
My name is Astede. I am 15 years old and an 8th-grade student. I live with my parents and my three sisters in Sekota Town. Before the training, my relationship with my family was stressful. They did not allow me to go outside because they feared I might face violence or other challenges. Although they wanted to protect me, it made me feel restricted and isolated.
Because I use a wheelchair, I always need someone to support me to move from place to place. Depending on others, even my family members, made me feel dependent and limited in my daily life. After attending the life skills training and the Positive Parenting Without Violence (PWV) sessions, both my mother and I began to understand each other better. We learned to accept my condition and focus on my abilities rather than my limitations.
The project also supported me and my family by providing non-food items (NFI), a dignity kit, and cash assistance to help address our economic challenges. This support improved our living conditions and reduced the stress on my family.
Now, our relationship has improved, and I feel more confident, supported, and free to participate in my community. I am able to live my life with dignity and hope for a better future.
The most significant change occurred in the relationship between Astede and her mother. Through the sessions, her mother developed a better understanding of her daughter’s condition and began to accept her disability. She also learned how to manage her fears and provide supportive care rather than overprotection.
At the same time, Astede grew more confident and began to feel valued. Communication between them improved, and they started discussing issues openly. Her mother became more supportive, allowing her to go outside, interact with others, and participate in social activities. Astede now attends school regularly and is achieving good academic results.
The provision of non-food items (NFI) and a dignity kit improved Astede’s confidence, while the cash support helped her family address their economic challenges. This shift reduced Astede’s sense of shame and dependency, replacing it with confidence, independence, and a strong sense of belonging.
This publication was produced with the financial support of the German Humanitarian Assistance
Its contents are the sole responsibility of Joining Forces and do not necessarily reflect the views of the German Humanitarian Assistance.