Helen Desta, the young lady, was born in Addis Ababa 24 years ago. She had been attending primary school up to grade 5 when an unpleasant incident happened against her eyes. It was in 1998 when Helen lost her right side eye. She said that while attending class in 5th grade her female language teacher thrown a black board cleaning duster and hit her eyes. A year later, Helen lost her left side eye due to the ill side effects of the cleaning duster. Helen said that she had an eye operation at Alert Hospital in order to be cured and get back to her regular class. Unfortunately, she did not succeed to get cured against the accident. As she became sightless, she felt hopeless and frustrated. Helen described that her future career was blocked and regretted to feel none visionary.

Five years later, in 2002, surviving without bright future life, Helen remembered that she heard that there is a disabled persons’ organization engaged in providing vocational skills and rehabilitation activities, which was Salu. She applied and received trainings in vocational skills including brush and broom making, basket weaving and knitting.

Helen, after the successful completion of her training, was provided with raw materials like pines woods and fibers used for the making of brushes under the condition that she make semi finished brushes and return to Salu and Salu pays her labor cost of 0.75 cents per every brush made. Initially she was able to make from 12 to 13 brushes a day and earned Birr 9 to Birr 9.75 a day too. Thus as Helen realized that if she make more, she will earn more and she had been tried to make as many brushes a day.

Now, Helen managed to make at least 20 brushes a day and earn a daily income of Birr 15. Helen said that on average she has been earning Birr 300 per month. Helen further stressed that she is even able to provide financial support to her mother.

As of the present situation, Helen described herself as that frustrated and hopeless life is now changed to productive mind with ample bright hopes and opportunities towards her future.

Helen’s mother said she is very happy to see her daughter getting rid of dependent and hopeless life and becoming productive and self sustaining. She further said that she is very surprised as she is getting financial support from her beloved daughter, Helen.