ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — It is pretty challenging to say that we've never faced the temptations of this world, but how many of us can overcome them? This world is especially difficult for women. Few people can solve the problem wisely, but Yordanos Asrat is one of them through God's grace.
Her mother is a civil servant, and her father is a driver. Yordanos refers to herself as daddy's girl because of their close relationship. She says my father did not have the opportunity to continue his education, but he never wanted me to miss out on the chance. My father played a massive row in getting my education.
The 25-year-old Addis Ababa native attended Hawassa University. Yordanos says I was excited to start my new journey at an excellent University. It was great initially, but life made a turn for the worst after falling in love and getting pregnant during my last year. I had a tough pregnancy, Yordanos explains; I wasn't getting the proper prenatal care, and I was emotional and mentally broken. My community turned their back on me, and the only person I had was my child father. He had already psychologically abused me before I left to marry another woman. Not to mention, so many people pressured me to give up my education and focus on raising my child. So that's what I did; I dropped out of school in 2017 to take care of my son but only for one year.
"I don't want what happened to me to happen again to another woman."
Although she never had the opportunity to travel outside of Ethiopia, while at Hawassa University, she studied, and now she is fluent in 5 languages: Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromia, English, and German. Yordanos says I didn't want to be a stranger in these cultures; having the ability to communicate wherever I go gives me leverage. Allows me to obtain information and help people with their translation needs.
She describes me as silent and caring; I spent most of my summers volunteering at different orphanages. I met this woman and her 6-year-old daughter during my residency. Sexually abused, both were thrown out of the house by her husband. I fought for her and raised funds to get her the justice she deserves and housing to start a better life. Yordanos remembers the challenges she, too, experienced with tears in her eyes. She says I don't want what happened to me to happen again to another woman.
After returning to Hawassa University in 2018 as a promise to herself, she knew she had to be strong and not fail. Successfully, she earned her bachelor's degree in information technology, but Yordanos focused on a bigger purpose. She wanted to establish relationships with all the Universities around Addis Ababa and surrounding areas as "A Means to an End ."Understanding the vulnerabilities young women face while attending these schools, she felt it was essential to implement a certain level of prevention. A mentoring program offers a case study, awareness, one-on-one counseling, personal testimonies, and a sisterhood.
"Helping young women attending any University to avoid the pressures of their peers."
Currently working with Nesebrak Worldwide, Yordanos's extensive workshop called "A Means to an End" defines having the ability to help others achieve their goal, even when it hurts during the process. Yordanos explains this workshop is a preventive measure before any chain of events that puts young women at risk. Helping young women attending any University to avoid the pressures of their peers is my number one priority. I want to offer training in building one's self-confidence and determination. Also, for those who failed victims like me, please give them the assistance needed to continue their studies. We want to encourage better decision-making amongst young women today. Today, I advocate that some level of sex awareness taught beyond secondary school walls should be included in the standard educational system.
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