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What do crocodiles, hyenas, a pair of shoes, and the lottery have in common? They have all helped shape a young Ethiopian boy into a man, who is now trying to live the America Dream.
A Young Boy in Ethiopia
Qumie was the eighth child of ten children, born into a poor farm family in Ethiopia. His father worked very hard, tilling the soil with his oxen and plow in an effort to provide for his family. Qumie did all he could to help on the farm. Life was difficult; harvests were uncertain and often inadequate. Except for the love of his family, Qumie was without privilege. But he dreamed of going to school, getting an education, and making a better life for himself.
Between the ages of 5 and 12, when the farm permitted, Qumie attended a small spiritual church school near his village. At age 12 he left his home and family to attend an Ethiopian spiritual church school, called the "Poet School." The 14-hour journey to or from this school required that Qumie swim across the crocodile-infested Nile River, often times through dangerous seasonably high waters, and swift currents. Once across the river, he walked another 54 miles through the Nile River Desert, barefoot and alone, to reach his distant village destination. When the desert heat was extreme, he would take two days for the journey, traveling in the cooler evening and morning hours. At the new school he was assigned a hut with a dirt-floor on which to sleep, was given a sheepskin for a blanket, and a very small classroom with five students; nothing more. In spite of the dangerous challenges, Qumie continued to make this trip between his home and school for the next ten years.
The Struggle to Find Food
Every day during school breaks and each evening after class, Qumie would go door-to-door asking for food, as it was not provided by the school. He often went hungry. Qumie has numerous scars on his body from vicious dog attacks he received while asking for food. One night he awoke to the sound of a hyena breathing through the wall slats of his hut. Fortunately, his loud screams awakened the other children in the hut and the ensuing commotion frightened the hungry animal off into the night.
His First Pair of Shoes
When Qumie graduated from the church school he was taken in by an orphanage. Sponsored by the German government, this facility provided homeless Ethiopian children with shelter, food and clothing, and most importantly, a "real" modern education. For the first time in his life, Qumie felt
blessed to finally have regular meals each day. He was most excited when, at age sixteen, the orphanage gave him his very first pair of shoes and a set of new clothes. With the stable environment that the orphanage provided, Qumie could focus on his education. And he exceled in his studies. He attended this sponsored school for 6 years, graduating at age 22.
College, Family and Professional Experience
Qumie was then blessed with the opportunity to attend a theological college, in Addis Ababa, the capitol city of Ethiopia. Over the next five years he studied to become a priest. Because of his diligence in his studies, he was also awarded a two-year Scholarship, to attend post-graduate studies in Dublin, Ireland. When he returned to Ethiopia he fell in love, married his sweetheart, and with the birth of their first daughter, started a family. Upon graduation he accepted a position as Administrative Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. This position lead to many other educational and leadership opportunities; for two years he served as the Administrative Assistant in Foreign Affairs for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and then for seven years as the Coordination Division Head of the Inter-Aid Commission. Kumi also worked for four years as the Program Manager for the Ethiopian Networks of Religious Leaders, in a national effort to prevent the spread of HIV and Aids. He served as the Deputy Department Head of the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia as well as the National HIV Coordinator for the Development of Inter- Church Aid Commission in Ethiopia. This country-wide organization of religious leaders networked to help care for HIV victims in Ethiopia.
Seeking a Better Life
In spite of his professional success, Qumie felt unsafe living in Addis Ababa. He wanted to escape the city's religious tension and political unrest and find a life of peace, security, and opportunity for himself, and his wife and two daughters.
In 2018 Qumie applied for the Diversity Visa Lottery. This U.S. Government-sponsored lottery allows foreign nationals to obtain a Permanent Resident Green Card, emigrate to the United States, and become American citizens through the naturalization process. That year more than 23 million individuals applied for this Green Card lottery.
Winning the Green Card Lottery
In 2019 Qumie and his family won this U.S.-sponsored lottery! They were selected at random to come to the United States, and in September they packed what would fit into a suitcase and made the permanent move to Salem, Oregon. Unfortunately, this lottery provides no money to its winners. Nor did it guarantee Qumie's success once he and his family arrived in America. Once members of the Salem community became aware of Qumie's situation, many rallied around in support of his family. With the help of church members, community friends, and many others, the family has been able to connect with social agencies and programs. Others have helped them
find entry-level employment, housing, and helped provide furnishings for the family's apartment.
Please Help Qumie Succeed
Capitalizing on their modest employment opportunities, Qumie and his family have been working hard to provide for their household. But Qumie desperately needs transportation. He never learned to ride a bike or drive a car in Ethiopia. Your financial help will enable him to:
1. Take a Driver's Education Class, learn to drive, and get his Oregon Driver’s License.
2. Buy a dependable used car.
3. Register and insure that car.
4. Travel to and from a job.
5. Attend college and earn a second college degree.
Qumie is a man of faith. He acknowledges that in his life he has been greatly blessed. He prays as if everything depends on Heaven and then works as if his success depends solely upon himself. He does not want charity, but right now he needs a little help with transportation. Mobility will help him to earn a degree, qualify for a professional employment position, travel to and from work and better provide for his family.
This remarkable family feels blessed to be in America. Please help Qumie and his family succeed, as they work to fulfill their American Dream.
Thank you for your generosity and support.
A Young Boy in Ethiopia
Qumie was the eighth child of ten children, born into a poor farm family in Ethiopia. His father worked very hard, tilling the soil with his oxen and plow in an effort to provide for his family. Qumie did all he could to help on the farm. Life was difficult; harvests were uncertain and often inadequate. Except for the love of his family, Qumie was without privilege. But he dreamed of going to school, getting an education, and making a better life for himself.
Between the ages of 5 and 12, when the farm permitted, Qumie attended a small spiritual church school near his village. At age 12 he left his home and family to attend an Ethiopian spiritual church school, called the "Poet School." The 14-hour journey to or from this school required that Qumie swim across the crocodile-infested Nile River, often times through dangerous seasonably high waters, and swift currents. Once across the river, he walked another 54 miles through the Nile River Desert, barefoot and alone, to reach his distant village destination. When the desert heat was extreme, he would take two days for the journey, traveling in the cooler evening and morning hours. At the new school he was assigned a hut with a dirt-floor on which to sleep, was given a sheepskin for a blanket, and a very small classroom with five students; nothing more. In spite of the dangerous challenges, Qumie continued to make this trip between his home and school for the next ten years.
The Struggle to Find Food
Every day during school breaks and each evening after class, Qumie would go door-to-door asking for food, as it was not provided by the school. He often went hungry. Qumie has numerous scars on his body from vicious dog attacks he received while asking for food. One night he awoke to the sound of a hyena breathing through the wall slats of his hut. Fortunately, his loud screams awakened the other children in the hut and the ensuing commotion frightened the hungry animal off into the night.
His First Pair of Shoes
When Qumie graduated from the church school he was taken in by an orphanage. Sponsored by the German government, this facility provided homeless Ethiopian children with shelter, food and clothing, and most importantly, a "real" modern education. For the first time in his life, Qumie felt
blessed to finally have regular meals each day. He was most excited when, at age sixteen, the orphanage gave him his very first pair of shoes and a set of new clothes. With the stable environment that the orphanage provided, Qumie could focus on his education. And he exceled in his studies. He attended this sponsored school for 6 years, graduating at age 22.
College, Family and Professional Experience
Qumie was then blessed with the opportunity to attend a theological college, in Addis Ababa, the capitol city of Ethiopia. Over the next five years he studied to become a priest. Because of his diligence in his studies, he was also awarded a two-year Scholarship, to attend post-graduate studies in Dublin, Ireland. When he returned to Ethiopia he fell in love, married his sweetheart, and with the birth of their first daughter, started a family. Upon graduation he accepted a position as Administrative Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. This position lead to many other educational and leadership opportunities; for two years he served as the Administrative Assistant in Foreign Affairs for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and then for seven years as the Coordination Division Head of the Inter-Aid Commission. Kumi also worked for four years as the Program Manager for the Ethiopian Networks of Religious Leaders, in a national effort to prevent the spread of HIV and Aids. He served as the Deputy Department Head of the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia as well as the National HIV Coordinator for the Development of Inter- Church Aid Commission in Ethiopia. This country-wide organization of religious leaders networked to help care for HIV victims in Ethiopia.
Seeking a Better Life
In spite of his professional success, Qumie felt unsafe living in Addis Ababa. He wanted to escape the city's religious tension and political unrest and find a life of peace, security, and opportunity for himself, and his wife and two daughters.
In 2018 Qumie applied for the Diversity Visa Lottery. This U.S. Government-sponsored lottery allows foreign nationals to obtain a Permanent Resident Green Card, emigrate to the United States, and become American citizens through the naturalization process. That year more than 23 million individuals applied for this Green Card lottery.
Winning the Green Card Lottery
In 2019 Qumie and his family won this U.S.-sponsored lottery! They were selected at random to come to the United States, and in September they packed what would fit into a suitcase and made the permanent move to Salem, Oregon. Unfortunately, this lottery provides no money to its winners. Nor did it guarantee Qumie's success once he and his family arrived in America. Once members of the Salem community became aware of Qumie's situation, many rallied around in support of his family. With the help of church members, community friends, and many others, the family has been able to connect with social agencies and programs. Others have helped them
find entry-level employment, housing, and helped provide furnishings for the family's apartment.
Please Help Qumie Succeed
Capitalizing on their modest employment opportunities, Qumie and his family have been working hard to provide for their household. But Qumie desperately needs transportation. He never learned to ride a bike or drive a car in Ethiopia. Your financial help will enable him to:
1. Take a Driver's Education Class, learn to drive, and get his Oregon Driver’s License.
2. Buy a dependable used car.
3. Register and insure that car.
4. Travel to and from a job.
5. Attend college and earn a second college degree.
Qumie is a man of faith. He acknowledges that in his life he has been greatly blessed. He prays as if everything depends on Heaven and then works as if his success depends solely upon himself. He does not want charity, but right now he needs a little help with transportation. Mobility will help him to earn a degree, qualify for a professional employment position, travel to and from work and better provide for his family.
This remarkable family feels blessed to be in America. Please help Qumie and his family succeed, as they work to fulfill their American Dream.
Thank you for your generosity and support.