Helping Etalemahu provide for her family
Etalemahu
My name is Etalemahu. I’m 69 and I live with my five grandchildren in a two-bedroom house in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. My husband died a while ago. I have hypertension and take medication for it but due to my hypertension my left eye and ear are not functioning properly. Even though I have this health problem, I regularly go to my stall to sell vegetables. Working daily makes me forget my pain.
My stall is on the street, close to my house. I sell potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, papers, cabbages and different kinds of vegetables. It is quite challenging as my income from the stall can’t provide enough for me and my family. It is with the support of CBISDO, Age International partner in Ethiopia, that we can survive. However, I really enjoy working at my stall as it gives me relief from my pain. I also socialise with friends when I go to CBISDO to get my daily meal.
Getting lunch everyday thanks to donors’ support
I always wake up in the morning and go to the street and prepare my stall with the vegetables I get. At midday I go to CBISDO and collect my lunch. I usually eat the lunch with my family. Then the rest of the day I continue selling vegetables at my stall. All the house chores are done by my grandchildren.
The support from CBISDO is my survival. I get my daily meal from there. They give us also detergents, soaps and blankets.
The cost of living is taking its toll on communities
The recent birr devaluation has greatly impacted the lives of people in my community, especially those with low incomes. The increase in prices of goods and services has made it increasingly difficult for people to afford their daily expenses, particularly when it comes to food. As I look around me, I can see the struggles that people are facing just to make ends meet. Families are having to cut back on their expenses, prioritise their spending, and even skip meals to afford the rising cost of food. It is heartbreaking to see the toll that this economic crisis is taking on people's health and wellbeing.
Having to cope with inclement weather
The rainy season was tough for me this year, and I found myself feeling cold and weak most of the time. The rain made me not carry out my petty trade run every day. The place where I picked vegetables was muddy and slippery. I often stayed at home on rainy days because I didn't want to risk falling or getting stuck in the mud. I sell vegetables by the roadside. When it rained heavily, it was hard for me to set up my stall and display my vegetables. I would also get drenched in the rain, which made it even harder for me to stay warm and comfortable while working.
But now I am doing good, the rainy season is over, and I am enjoying the bright and sunny days.
“Your support has an impact on how I lead my life and raise my grandchildren and I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to those who support grandparents like me.’
Around the world older people face many challenges but, thanks to the support of the Grandparents United community, life can be more stable, more comfortable and safer for many older people and their families.