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The Story of Marate, 14 
Located in the main city of Addis Ababa, the Kebena Child Development Centre is operating already since 1997. It hosts currently 60 boys and 50 girls. One of them is Marate, now 14 years old. When she was 12 she had to leave her home and family in rural Ethiopia, escaping misery and abject poverty, trying to find her fortune in the big city.
She soon found herself subject to abuse and exploitation just to make a living with education, medical care, and housing out of reach for her. It is in this condition that the CDC nomination committee found Marate and she was invited to become part of the child development programme. Her life was turned around, through the centre she found medical care, education, and most importantly, love and care. The doom and gloom of her past life has all gone, being replaced by hope and the light of life in her heart, tears in her dark brown eyes have been replaced with a wonderful smile on her face. Today, Marate is an integral part of our CDC, encouraging and supporting fellow children from similar circumstances, helping with Sunday School and singing in the local church choir. |