Deaf and mute single mom needs help in raising her 2 year old daughter.

 

Blean Girma's story is not an easy one. The tiny girl is 2 years old and her mom, Meseret, is deaf and mute, unable to hear her child and unable to speak with her. The mom's life is somewhat of a mystery. What we do know is when she was 9 years old, a family found her in Debre Zeyit crying and without any clothes so they took her in as their own. When she turned 16, she left the home and began work as a daily laborer trying to make it on her own. The area she was living in was not safe as it turns out. The husband of a couple living nearby raped Meseret when his wife was away and this is how baby Blean was conceived.

Even though they reported it to the police, there was no justice for the family. Meseret was a poor woman, unable to hear or speak, and she had no family so no one saw it worth fighting for. It didn't help that the man who did this was a traffic cop. She was offered to have an abortion, but she refused as Blean is a part of her. "She is her eye, she is her mouth," the social worker said. And she's right.

Times were hard two years ago and remain hard for this single mom on her own. She tried to make a living washing clothes and making a traditional drink that takes days to make, but even so, the income is not enough. They have lived in Debre Zeyit for three years now without assistance aside from the kindness of a friend who became her voice for us on our visit to meet the family today.

She says people come, and people take their photo, but nothing is given but hope that something will come of it. Immediate needs for the family include food, clothes, and rent. The social worker working Blean's case wants to see sign language school happen so she has a way of communication. Communication with the family to try and get her some help is hard as she has no way to speak or hear us. Outside of the mom's hearing loss and being mute, the family is healthy. Meseret was unable to attend school for a basic education as she has these disabilites. Life in Ethiopia is hard with an education, let alone going without.

Perhaps you feel the call to support this family until Meseret gets the training she needs to get out of the sponsorship program? Currently little Blean is not sponsored, so at this time she is not receiving any support.  (She did get beanie babies when I met her for the first time today).