The Journey to Belonging

Misgana is a 13-year-old girl whose smile rarely leaves her face. She lives in Waghimra Zone, in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, where she grew up surrounded by the love and care of her parents. From an early age, however, Misgana experienced speech and developmental challenges that affected her ability to communicate and learn. Combined with the economic difficulties her family faced, these challenges meant she remained at home, without the opportunity to attend school like other children her age. With limited access to information and resources, her family believed that her condition was simply God’s will and did not know what support might be available to help her learn. 

A visit that opened the door to change 

During the school registration period, teachers from a nearby primary school conducted an awareness campaign to encourage families to enroll their children in school. After hearing about Misgana from neighbors, they visited her family and encouraged her parents to consider enrolling her. They explained that, with the right support, Misgana could learn and participate in education alongside other children. The conversation gave her family renewed hope, especially as they saw how happy the possibility of going to school made her. However, financial difficulties remained a major obstacle, as the family struggled to afford scholastic and other essential materials she needed. Determined not to let the opportunity slip away, her parents cut back on other expenses to provide what they could and give their daughter a chance to learn. 

In 2024, at the age of 10, Misgana enrolled in grade 1. Encouraged by the possibility of seeing their daughter progress, her family arranged for her to stay with her grandmother near the school so she could attend classes more regularly. Her parents hoped this arrangement would help her settle into school and continue learning. However, the transition proved challenging. As an older student learning alongside younger children, Misgana had to navigate a new environment while also working through the speech and developmental difficulties that had affected her learning from an early age. By the end of the school year, she had stopped attending classes and returned home. 

Support to stay in school 

With continued encouragement from her teachers, Misgana was given another opportunity to continue her education and re-enrolled in school. Now a Grade 2 student, she is continuing her learning journey with renewed determination. In 2025, she was identified for support through SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia’s Building Beyond Conflict (BBC) Project, which prioritizes support for children facing heightened vulnerabilities, including children with disabilities and other special needs. Implemented by SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia, with support from SOS Children’s Villages Worldwide and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, the project helped address one of the barriers that had threatened Misgana’s continued education. Through the project, she received financial support for essential school materials, easing the financial burden on her family, and helping her remain in school. 

Finding her voice 

Today, Misgana is continuing her education and making progress. For her family, the changes have been especially meaningful. Her parents are delighted that their daughter has begun to speak more.

“At the age of 12, she began to speak,” they say, expressing their gratitude for the support and encouragement she has received.

Misgana is happy to be in school, and her parents and teachers are committed to helping her continue her education. Her journey is a reminder that children who face developmental challenges or economic hardship should not be defined by the barriers around them. With the right support, encouragement, and opportunity, children like Misgana can find their way into the classroom, and find their voice. 

About the project  

The Building Beyond Conflict (BBC): Integrated Early Recovery and Humanitarian Response (2025–2027) project aims to address urgent humanitarian needs and support the recovery of conflict-affected communities in North Wollo and Waghimra zones of the Amhara Region, Ethiopia. The project targets 29,711 direct participants and over 89,000 indirect participants through integrated interventions in education, child protection, livelihoods, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), nutrition, and multipurpose cash assistance.  

*To respect the person's privacy, their real name has not been used