Help Lalibela youth to safety

Greetings,

 

When Majical and I arrived in Lalibela in 2015, as we dropped our bags off and set off to explore the holy town, we met this group of young boys ( age 10 - 16 who had a shoe shining station outside of our hotel, the Tukul village. We immediately became good friends and spent every day for the next week with them being shown around ( from their perspective) all around this holy place, in and around the ancient churches, through the mountains to the monasteries. During that time they were practising their English on us and we were learning amharic language and Ethiopian customs from them. The unconventional local experience we had because of these young men was the highlight of our whole trip. Everyday we spent with them, they would eat and drink with us and we tried to look after them as much as we could. When we left Lalibela after a game of football with them outside of the Tukul village, they were crowding around our bus and cheering for us. I'll always cherish these memories.

 

Since that time, I have kept in close contact with these boys and others that we met during our time in Lalibela. I speak usually every week with them and send them money when possible to pay their rent and so they can look after their friends and families.

 

My main points of contact in Lalibela are Obama and Daniel, Yerdaw and Getiu via phone calls, WhatsApp and Fb messenger. Obama ( Eyobe ) was the " leader " of this group of young men during our visit. He lives with Daniel, who has a 3 year old daughter in Addis Ababa. Most recently I have been trying to help them start a computer game shop business, a idea they came to me with so they could better their lives on their own which made me really happy as I have been encouraging their entrepreneurial activities. Yerdaw and Getiu have been at school and often send me nice letters. Getiu especially, is always trying his best to care for his mother, sending me pictures and hoped his sister would be able to go to school soon too.

 

In the last few days, Lalibela has been captured by TPLF forces and I have no doubt their lives, which were already hard, especially with the lack of visitors to Lalibela, are now in serious danger. We have not been able to get through to them, there is a very likely possibility they have taken to the mountains with many others and if I hear from them, I want to be able to help them get to somewhere safe and have food and water.

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2021/8/5/tigray-rebels-take-control-of-unesco-site-lalibela-residents

 

We are Praying for their safety at this time and for all the beautiful and faithful people of Lalibela

 

I will update here.

 

Give thanks

Jah guidance and protection

Ras Benji

 

 

Majical with our friends in Lalibela

Daniel and his daughter

Myself and Yerdaw ( Manuel)

Getiu at school

 

 

Getiu, His mother and Sister

 

Our friends in Lalibela

Obama ( Eyobe Abate)