Early Life and Family Background
Kera is a 25-year-old woman from Dessie. She was raised in a stable and supportive family environment, with four brothers and two sisters. She completed grade 8 in school and is an Orthodox Christian. Kera was raised by her family in a supportive environment. Her upbringing was stable, and her family had no significant economic hardships. With the encouragement of her family, including her four brothers and two sisters, she managed to complete grade 8. Motivated by her own ambition, she made efforts to go abroad for work and even covered all the associated costs herself.
Challenges and the Start of Sex Work
Her entry into sex work was not due to a lack of support but rather stemmed from her desire to travel to an Arab country for work. She moved to Addis Ababa after completing the necessary visa processes. While waiting to inalize the process, she reconnected with a familiar person from her hometown and stayed in frequent contact with him. This led to a romantic relationship and soon thereafter, a sexual encounter. A few days later, upon receiving her medical results, she learned she was pregnant. When she found out this would prevent her from traveling abroad, she was devastated. Out of fear, she didn’t tell her family and only shared the news with the man involved. He, however, refused to support her or stay with her and pressured her to terminate the pregnancy before disappearing.
Hardships After Pregnancy
With her family unaware of her situation, Kera was left alone. She used all the money she had saved for traveling to cover the costs of her pregnancy and childbirth. After giving birth, she found herself without money to pay rent or feed herself, leading to serious hardships. She eventually began interacting with women in her neighborhood who were engaged in sex work and, after sharing her difficulties with one of them, was encouraged to join and support herself and her child. She began working as a sex worker and remained in this life for four years.
Emotional and Physical Toll
The emotional toll of sex work was severe. She suffered significant psychological trauma, struggled with self-worth, and lost connection with her family. Supporting her daughter as a single mother while feeling spiritually and emotionally broken added to the burden. During this time, she also endured repeated physical abuse. Her experience in the sex trade also introduced her to substance use, including alcohol and khat, which further affected her well-being. Despite all this, she has no known medical illness.
Support from Ellilta Program
Her journey with Ellilta (an outreach and rehabilitation program) began after a nighttime visit to the Shola area, where she was approached and invited to the organization. Through the support she received, from intake to interview, she became a program participant.
Transformation Through the Program
Since joining the program, Kera has shown noticeable improvement. She is actively engaged in the counseling and teaching sessions provided. She has made a strong decision to change her life and, during the retreat program, she was spiritually transformed accepting Christ as her personal Savior. She now attends church regularly and is receiving discipleship training.
Current Situation and Work
Kera is in a good place to start her new life. She is intellectually capable and eager to work. She prefers not to stay idle and is open in expressing her feelings, both to her mentor and her caseworker.
Vocational Training and Employment
At first, Kera had no desire to work and lacked confidence in her ability to perform manual tasks. However, through the skills training and counseling she received, she has developed discipline and motivation. She now eagerly participates in extra work during her off days to generate additional income. She is involved in selling sugar and incense and is also using the sewing skills work she learned through the program to earn up to 4,500 birr per month. Additionally, she raises chickens and sells eggs and poultry for extra income. Kera is now a very diligent and committed worker.
Training Completion and Future Plans
She completed a six-month counseling and vocational training program and is currently engaged in a three-month practical training in home management. She has successfully completed it and is now working at a hotel as part of her apprenticeship.
