"My neighbors were stunned to see me outside of my home!" Dijame's Story

[image description: a smiling woman is seated and holding crutches. Behind her are two children and her home.]

Our staff met Dijame, a 60-year-old woman living in the village of Bada with her youngest daughter. Dijame’s husband died 15 years ago, leaving her to raise and provide for her nine children alone. Seven years later, she developed an illness in her right leg, which quickly led to an amputation. 

After her leg amputation, she shared that her life was extremely difficult– she isolated herself entirely from her community and shuttered herself away in her dark home. Then, she began to lose her vision and went blind. “This was the worst season for me…I stopped eating because I was now blind and did not have a leg, so how could I move?.. I was cursing my date of birth.”

But then, a seed of hope was planted. “...one day, I heard about a cataract campaign at a Health Center. I received treatment for my blindness and could finally see again.” 

Thankfully, another seed of hope was planted. “One blessed day, my old friend Ersulo came to visit me. He, too, was an amputee and told me that WEEMA helped him get an artificial leg. He encouraged me to reach out to WEEMA and ask for help. It was absurd of me to think I would ever walk again. But, the next day, I sent one of my sons to visit the WEEMA and local government offices to ask for help. My son returned with great news- I was eligible to receive support services almost immediately!”

Dijame’s friend, Ersulo. [Image description: a smiling man is seated on the ground]

WEEMA coordinated services and transported her to Arbaminch Rehabilitation Center, where she received treatment free of charge.

“...With the support and guidance of WEEMA, I stayed at Arbamich Rehabilitation Center for 22 days and received treatment, rehabilitation, a prosthetic leg, and assistive devices for walking. I no longer thought about the suffering I endured for seven years.” 

[image description: a smiling woman is standing with the aid of crutches. Behind her are two children, a man, and her home.]

“...My neighbors were stunned to see me outside of my home. I had suffered with so many problems, but now I can walk outside, meet my neighbors, and start living again.  For me, it was unthinkable that I would have a chance to live again. But my God sent WEEMA workers to me. I see them as angels who came to me with good news.”

Dijame has a new outlook on life. Living with a disability in rural Ethiopia is incredibly challenging due to discrimination, lack of accessibility, poverty, and many other factors. Together, we can improve the lives of the most vulnerable in Central Ethiopia.