Meet Assegedech: the mother Teresa of Ethiopia

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Despite being in her 70s, Assegedech Asfaw shows no sign of slowing down.“We have 9 cows here,” she informs me with pride. “When they get as big as they can, we sell them and the profits support the association. I always lookafter the cows myself. I wouldn’t trust anyone else to do it!”

A meeting with Diré Dawa’s Mother Teresa

Assegedech is the founder of the Assegedech Asfaw Aged Persons’ Association (AAAPA) in Ethiopia. It is a home for older people who are struggling in poverty, without any family to look after them. It has space for up to 90 residents and is part-financed by Age International. Assegedech oversees everything, ably assisted by her remarkable project officer, Elsa.

“The milk from the cows is very popular in the surrounding area. There’s often a queue to come and buy it. The dung from the cows is used to produce biogas. We’ve also bred goats and we even managed to give 70 to the university as a gift.”

Why give them to the university, I ask. Surely the AAAPA needs them more?
“I believe in giving something back. They have supported us and I would like to support them. Also the university supports poor people.”

Small beginnings

 A typically humble reply from an extraordinarily humble woman. Assegedech believes passionately in the power of ‘giving something back’ and has been living her life by that motto since she was a child:

“I was born in Diré Dawa – into a poor family. My father only had a small income,” she explains. “But I would always bring older people home and my father would stand by me in seeking to support them. Other people would often say that I was a spoilt child for bringing older people home because we didn’t earn much money.”

Always thinking of new ways to develop the association

 “My husband was also happy for me to bring people home. My husband was a good man.” After her husband passed away, Assegedech opened up her whole home to older people in the area.

When the building couldn’t hold any more, she sold her belongings in order to afford a bigger home for her and others.

Over the years, her actions have left her known locally as ‘Diré Dawa’s Mother Teresa’.

“I am always thinking of new ways to develop the association but I’m guided by God in this. I really believe it’s important to work towards sustainability – that’s why we have the mill that we rent out and we’re doing some building work to create more space that we can let out to local businesses.”

Everyone should be given the chance to work

 “My dream would be to reach and support the poor,” Assegedech tells us. “To teach them, to engage them in income-generating activity so that they are able to support themselves. Everyone should be given the chance to work.”

Older people in the association are encouraged to get involved in productive activities, like weaving and gardening. The work helps to fund their home – but it also gives them a sense of independence and community:

“Seeing this garden grow is like seeing a child grow up. It brings income and the air is refreshing and revitalising. The garden makes the older people young and strong and makes them happy.”

I am very grateful for people’s support

 Assegedech is tremendously grateful to the people of the UK, as well as the local University and Ethiopian Government, for helping her to make her dreams a reality – and having faith in her project.

“I know that people might not have very much but that they’re doing what they can. You remember the passage in the Bible where the woman in temple who gave 2 coins gave everything she had and was commended by Jesus? I am very grateful for people’s support – it makes all the difference. They are sharing what they have.”

It doesn’t matter how you start out – you have nothing if you have no one beside you

 After all these years, I wonder what is it that still motivates Assegedech – and what, in the first place, lead her to feel so connected to older people?

“When I was younger I remember a man from my neighbourhood. He was very rich but his daughter died. One day I saw him and he was living outside the church and he was very ill.”

“I tried to help him and I took him to a clinic but he died. It doesn’t matter how you start out – you have nothing if you have no one beside you.”

You think old age will never happen to you

 “He was 67 when he died. I find it very sad that so many have a good youth but then have nothing when they grow old. You think old age will never happen to you – you think you will always be young but you should think about your future.”

Before we leave, I ask Assegedech if she ever imagines a day when she’ll stop inviting people into her home. Her answer is short, simple and speaks wonders of her generosity and spirit: “No!”