We only use your email address to send you the newsletter and to see how many people are opening our emails. A full privacy policy can be viewed here. You can change your mind at any time and update your preferences or unsubscribe. Sixteen year old Emu is proud of the life she has built for herself and her nine year old sister, Betty. While they were abandoned by their parents years agoβand live on the streets of Dire Dawa by themselvesβthey run their own small business, selling snacks, and have managed to stay in school.
Emu is in 8th grade. Emu wakes very early, often 5 am, to study before she must begin work. For breakfast she eats bread with sugar sprinkled on it. If she can afford it, on Saturday mornings she takes a shower in a public toilet service. For three years she took on small jobs, carrying messages and washing clothes and dishes. When she had saved enough money, she opened her own stall. While she works hard, some days the girls do not have enough to eat.
Betty goes to school every afternoon. Emu believes that going to school is a privilege and makes sure that her sister is neat every day. She helps do her hair and keeps her clothes clean. Class meets on Monday and Tuesday from to and again for a few hours each evening. Her fees are paid by a kind neighbour. Emu is proud to wear a school uniform again. Each evening Emu feeds Betty dinner and helps her with her homework. If there is money, they buy bread and beans.
The sisters go to sleep at 9. First name. Last name. GAGE newsletter Please tick the box to confirm that you wish to receive our newsletter. Search for: Created with Sketch. Created with Sketch. Search for:. A day in the life of Emu. Reading books, waking up. Helping her sister get ready for school.
Proud of being at school. Returning to the veranda, eating and sleeping. Sign up to our newsletter. Privacy policy Site created by FX Digital.
