Send Saba Home
Donation protected
About a year ago I met a girl I am now beyond blessed enough to call my sister. What first started as her helping me walk my dog mid day while I'm at work quickly turned into so much more... I'm writing this in hopes that I can share a bit of where my heart has been this past year with you all.
Saba grew up in Ethiopia at a very young age in a household of physical abuse and little to eat on the table. She lost her only brother to a gun shot way too young and straight out of college ( yes, she has a bachelors degree in psychology ) was sold a dream which quickly turned into modern day slavery.
At 25 years old she has become the sole provider for her family and sends all of the little money that she makes back home to support her mother who is not very well. Saba often tells me that she feels she is an old woman trapped in her body, the amount of grief and trauma that she has gone through at such a young age is more than most would see in a lifetime.
The more of her story and grief which she shares with me the more aware and full of gratitude I am to have come from such a supportive network of friends and family. I'de really like to be able to pass some of that support along to Saba so have started to help her plan her next steps and encourage her to think beyond the present situation and towards a future which she would like to build back home again were she to have the means to get there.
Through our many conversations she has finally landed on the Hospitality Industry as her focus towards building a career someday. I have recently enrolled her in online courses to get a certificate in Hotel Management and it has been so fun to see her light up when she opens her notes or shares her graded assignment results with me.
Unfortunately her current situation will not allow her to start building her career or to really start her process of healing so my other main focus has been how to get her home. Money is the biggest obstacle at the moment which brings me to where I am hoping you all can join me in this journey to help send Saba home.
I have done some research on cost of living in Ethiopia and what it would take to give her a 6 month cushion were she to return home. I plan to try to save / collect until I am able to present it to Saba with a one way ticket to Addis Ababa. Since she tends to never keep a penny for herself and most of what she currently makes goes to her family which she supports I also am planning to manage these funds for her. I want to make sure that the money which is donated really is invested in helping her get her feet off the ground in order to invest in her future.
Any bit helps, but if you wish to contribute to something specific below is the break down of what what the money will go towards:
Cost Of Living:
- Monthly Rent ( 900 sqft 1 bedroom ) $835
- Utilities per Month $340
- Internet Cost per Month $120
- Food / Transport Allowance ( x 3 ) $1,680
Additional Needs:
- Flight Home $139
- Microwave $234
- Bed for House $290
- Money to buy proper Clothes / Shoes $ Any Helps
Should you not have the means to donate financially, thoughts and prayers are appreciated and go a long way as well.
Blessings to you and yours throughout the holiday and New Year!
Kelly
Saba grew up in Ethiopia at a very young age in a household of physical abuse and little to eat on the table. She lost her only brother to a gun shot way too young and straight out of college ( yes, she has a bachelors degree in psychology ) was sold a dream which quickly turned into modern day slavery.
At 25 years old she has become the sole provider for her family and sends all of the little money that she makes back home to support her mother who is not very well. Saba often tells me that she feels she is an old woman trapped in her body, the amount of grief and trauma that she has gone through at such a young age is more than most would see in a lifetime.
The more of her story and grief which she shares with me the more aware and full of gratitude I am to have come from such a supportive network of friends and family. I'de really like to be able to pass some of that support along to Saba so have started to help her plan her next steps and encourage her to think beyond the present situation and towards a future which she would like to build back home again were she to have the means to get there.
Through our many conversations she has finally landed on the Hospitality Industry as her focus towards building a career someday. I have recently enrolled her in online courses to get a certificate in Hotel Management and it has been so fun to see her light up when she opens her notes or shares her graded assignment results with me.
Unfortunately her current situation will not allow her to start building her career or to really start her process of healing so my other main focus has been how to get her home. Money is the biggest obstacle at the moment which brings me to where I am hoping you all can join me in this journey to help send Saba home.
I have done some research on cost of living in Ethiopia and what it would take to give her a 6 month cushion were she to return home. I plan to try to save / collect until I am able to present it to Saba with a one way ticket to Addis Ababa. Since she tends to never keep a penny for herself and most of what she currently makes goes to her family which she supports I also am planning to manage these funds for her. I want to make sure that the money which is donated really is invested in helping her get her feet off the ground in order to invest in her future.
Any bit helps, but if you wish to contribute to something specific below is the break down of what what the money will go towards:
Cost Of Living:
- Monthly Rent ( 900 sqft 1 bedroom ) $835
- Utilities per Month $340
- Internet Cost per Month $120
- Food / Transport Allowance ( x 3 ) $1,680
Additional Needs:
- Flight Home $139
- Microwave $234
- Bed for House $290
- Money to buy proper Clothes / Shoes $ Any Helps
Should you not have the means to donate financially, thoughts and prayers are appreciated and go a long way as well.
Blessings to you and yours throughout the holiday and New Year!
Kelly
Organizer
kelly Short
Organizer
Crozet, VA
