written by Ellilta staff
Early Life in Hosanna
Sgana was born and raised in a town called Hosanna. She is now 28 years old. When she was nine, her older sister brought her to Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Her sister helped take care of her and even gave her a chance to study in the evenings.
Harassment and Abduction
While attending school, Sgana was followed and harassed by a man many times. During her free time, she sold coffee and roasted barley (called kollo) to save money. She hoped to travel to an Arab country for a better life. Sadly, one day, the same man waited for her in a car outside school, kidnapped her, and took her to a place she didn’t know. He kept her in fear so she couldn’t run away. This traumatic event made her feel hopeless, and she even tried to end her life.
Escape and Psychological Struggles
The man took her to a place called Wolayta and locked her in a house. She tried to escape several times but was always caught. One day, she convinced him to let her go and escaped by hiding in a freight truck going to Addis Ababa. She returned to her sister and told her everything. Sgana became very sick because of the emotional pain, but her sister supported her as much as she could. Sgana then went back to selling kollo and coffee to survive.
First Marriage and Separation
Later, with help from her family, Sgana got married to someone they trusted. She had one child. But after three years, her husband started drinking heavily and became abusive. Sgana couldn’t live with him anymore, so she left with her child and went back to her sister. She started doing hard labor jobs to take care of herself and her child.
Second Relationship and More Challenges
Sgana met another man, and they started living together. He promised to take care of her and her child. She had a second child with him. But again, the relationship didn’t work, and they separated. Sgana believes the trauma from her earlier life had a strong effect on her. She struggled alone, trying to raise her two children, feeling lost and without hope.
Turning to Survival Sex Work
Because of her desperate situation, Sgana became involved in sex work to support her family. She speaks honestly about this part of her life. She says she would only recommend it to her daughter if it meant getting better money and a better life. She worked in this field for about seven years.
Joining Ellilta – A New Chapter
One night, outreach workers from Ellilta found Sgana in an area called Golagol. They invited her to join their support program. She agreed and started training that lasted about six months. She received counseling and learned skills like handcrafts. She worked hard and was known for being helpful and committed.
Current Training and Future Hope
Now, Sgana is learning home management as part of a job training program. She has finished the training and is getting real work experience in a hotel. Her life is changing for the better.
Life After Ellilta Support
Thanks to Ellilta, Sgana’s life has improved a lot. She took daily life skills classes, received one-on-one counseling, and joined group discussions during retreats. These helped her heal from past trauma. She also got food and pocket money support, which made a big difference in her life.
