June 10, 2006
Shining shoes to go to school
Meskerem Geremew knew she had to get an education. So the 12-year-old girl from Ethiopia’s bustling capital, Addis Ababa, decided to take action.
First she got hold of some rags and a cracked water container and set herself up as one of the city’s only shoeshine girls, holding her own against hundreds of competing shoeshine boys. Then she started saving, splitting her earnings between her mother and a special school-savings pot.
On weekends and evenings after classes, Meskerem shines shoes for up to 1 birr (11 cents) a pair. On a good day, she can earn as much as 10 birr ($1.15). Half of that goes to buy food and other provisions for her family. The rest of her earnings are put toward school fees and related costs – 15 birr a month, or 154 birr for the whole year.
Read more on www.unicef.org
Posted by aheavens at June 10, 2006 7:07 AM
Comments
i've wondered so many times if there are any girl listros.
thanks andrew.
any chance you could find out the stories behind the street cleaning ladies. they look as if they're born out of 'the handmaid's tale'. just something i've always been curious about.
Posted by: sara at June 10, 2006 9:43 AM
Dear Andrew,
Is there any way that we can contact the girl and her family? I would be happy to cover her expenses related to school. I tried on the unicief page but I couldn't find any way to get to her.
If you have any connections with the journalists who shot the story, or any other way, can you leave the info here or may be send me an email?
Thanks
Posted by: Temesgen at June 13, 2006 11:33 AM
I tried to click the picture so I could see the image at a decent resolution and it told me I had to be added to your list to view it.
I read your site all the time, I love your work, keep up the good work!
Posted by: Avery at June 14, 2006 9:14 PM