Two years ago, Bizuye's young son couldn't walk. Today he walks, laughs and plays – and his mother has a stable job.
Two years ago, I was desperate. My husband had disappeared, simply staying away from work at the coca-cola factory. I searched for him, in vain. Did he leave me, just like that? Or did something happen to him? I don't know. I still love him.
I was most worried about my son Makbel. He was almost two and a half years old and still couldn't walk. He only crawled. I thought maybe something was wrong with his spine or his hips. I was afraid he would be disabled forever. I didn't have the money for an examination.
Being alone with this worry was unbearable. Without my husband's income, I could no longer pay the rent. Little by little, I sold everything I owned – even the kitchen appliances. I was afraid the landlord would evict me.
The only bright spot during this time was that I was able to begin an apprenticeship as a domestic worker with Menschen für Menschen. At the same time, they also included Makbel in their nutrition program because he was malnourished. When the people at Menschen für Menschen saw that my boy still couldn't walk and how desperate I was, they had Makbel examined at the hospital.
The doctors determined that his bones were too weak – a consequence of malnutrition, they said. He received special food and physiotherapy, arranged by Menschen für Menschen. In class, I learned how to prepare nutritious meals even on a tight budget – using beans and other legumes.
Makbel made rapid progress. After just a few months, he could walk. Today he is four years old, strong and cheerful. When I see him playing, laughing and running, I remember the terrible time and am glad that we are better off now.
After my training, I immediately got a job at a kindergarten. That's also connected to the initiative of Menschen für Menschen. There are five of us caregivers, four of whom have completed domestic science training. The owner of the private kindergarten specifically hires us graduates. She says we're particularly good.
I don't earn a lot of money, but there are other advantages: I'm allowed to bring Makbel to work with me, and we can eat there. That helps us a lot. I've rented a small room because, in fact, the landlord of my previous apartment kicked me out. The rent is high, everything has become expensive – bread, oil, soap, electricity. I'm not even allowed to bake my own bread because my landlord is worried about the electricity costs.
But still: When I think back to the past, to the fear and despair, everything is completely different today. I have a job, I have good colleagues, and my son is healthy. I am so grateful for that.
