Help Mahider Overcome Financial Odds to Become a Physician

Help Mahider Achieve Her Dream of Becoming a Physician: A Journey of Resilience and Hope in Ethiopia

I am a retired American professor who taught at Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia. One of my best Ethiopian friends has a niece with dreams of becoming a physician despite growing up poor and having a mother with chronic health problems. Since Ethiopians cannot apply for GoFundMe directly, I am applying for Mahider. I will channel ALL of your contributions to Mahider via Western Union. Here is her story:

Hello, my name is Mahider, and I am reaching out with a heartfelt plea for support to fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a physician. My journey has been filled with challenges, especially financial hardships.

Growing up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with a single mother who faces chronic health issues, I was inspired by my experiences with a healthcare system that often dismisses patients, like when I was told, “You are fine,” despite feeling pain. These moments sparked my curiosity about the human body and inspired me to explore medical topics on my own, pushing me toward a deep passion for medicine and a strong desire to help others avoid similar struggles.

Although my father was entirely absent from my life, and I had limited support from maternal relatives, I achieved top grades (90 to 99.4), earned scholarships, and actively participated in community service during high school and earlier grades.

Currently, my mother and I live solely on my tutoring income, and despite being accepted to Addis Ababa University, financial constraints and lack of dormitory accommodations forced me to take two gap years. During this time, I engaged in volunteer work, tutoring and searching for fully funded scholarships. I faced rejection from fully funded scholarships like Turkiye Burslari, making it heartbreaking to see my dreams slip away.

Nevertheless, I still remain determined to study medicine (self-sponsored, with your help), particularly at Addis Ababa University or another institution in Addis called Myung Sung Medical College.

Particularly, Myung Sung Medical College offers a shorter, six-year program with internship and job opportunities for top students, an attractive pathway given my lost two gap years and the need for a more simplified route to become a cardiologist to address Ethiopia’s shortage of specialists.

Myung Sung Medical College: $3430 per year. For the full six years, tuition totals $13,392, dorm $6,696, materials $492 = $20,580

OR

Addis Ababa University: $1285 per year. For the full seven years, tuition totals $6,695, dorm (limited spots) $1,719, and materials $574 = $8988.

Much less expensive than at US medical schools, but still out of my reach financially.

Every contribution, no matter how small, whether it is donation or sharing the link, brings me closer to my dream. Thank you for reading my story. Your support can change my and my mother’s life and the lives of those I aim to serve.