An Open Door after Fifteen Years

I never thought I'd leave my home. For fifteen years, my world was confined to the walls of my house. A childhood illness had left me disabled, unable to walk or play like other children. The stigma surrounding my condition forced me to abandon my education after the fourth grade.

My name is Astede Tedla. I am a 26-year-old young woman born and raised in the town of Shire Ende Selassie, in the Tigray Region. I was disabled due to a childhood illness I suffered as a child. The disability I experienced prevented me from walking, playing, and going to school like my peers, and the stigma I and my family faced prevented me from completing my education and kept me confined to my home.

Then, on Saturday morning, October 9, 2024, something happened that changed the course of my life. I was invited to a women’s entrepreneurship training organized by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute through SEED program. When such trainings are prepared, my mother is the one who participates in place of me. My mother was taking it as a usual duty to participate on behalf of me. So my mother went to the training venue to train on behalf of me. However, the EDI trainers who understood this explained to my mother that it was not possible to train on behalf of me and recommended that I myself had to participate and arranged transportation for me to be part of the training.

As I stepped into the training room, a surge of emotions blown over me. A mix of fear, excitement, and hope filled my heart. For the first time in years, I felt a glimmer of freedom. The training empowered me, igniting a spark within me. I realized that my disability was not a barrier but a challenge to overcome.

With newfound confidence, I have started getting out of home. I resumed my education and began to market my handicrafts, especially sewing. The skills I learned at the training empowered me to start the journey of being self-reliant. I will no longer be a burden on my family but a contributor to their well-being. To those who feel trapped by their circumstances, I say: never lose hope. With the right support and opportunities, you can break free from limitations. EDI opened a door for me, and now I'm walking through it, one step at a time.