The Everyday Feminist

7The Closer You Are to Impact Matters

Spotlight: Hewan Areaya and the Menstrual Health Movement

Issue: Street Children

On a cold morning in Addis Ababa, I met Tsegaye. She was among a dozen or so children who had gathered, in a government school, to receive the breakfast offered by UNICEF and answer my questions about their experiences living on the streets of Ethiopia's capital.

An incredibly slim young woman, she was almost 16 but had the demeanor of someone much older. She spoke very low with her legs crossed, her skirt brushing the ground, and her back hunched over as if she was reading something on her lap. Through my translator, she told me that she slept in the walkway leading to the entry of the church grounds last night, but she was not sure where she'd sleep tonight. Her home was in Oromia, the largest region in Ethiopia, with a population of 37 million. She said she was working in Addis Ababa to send money back to her parents. She livened a bit as she continued: “I am the oldest of seven and it is important that I contribute to their care.” I asked how she makes money. She shut down. “Do you beg?” “Yes,” she says. “Do you sell things?” “Sometimes.” “Do you work for someone?” She loudly and proudly answered, “No!”

As the child protection officer in the UNICEF country office, I developed an ambitious work plan that cut across the various sectors to address issues that affected the most marginalized children and women in the country. As the timeless border struggle ...