Twelve boys from one of our short-term aftercare centres in Ethiopia, called Lighthouses, were reintegrated back with their families in just one week.
Many were living on the streets of the capital, Addis Ababa, where they were at huge risk of exploitation.
One of those boys is Ifa* who is just 15. He was trafficked from his home in the West Hararge zone of the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Traffickers deceived him with their promise of better opportunities, but instead of helping him to find legitimate work, they took him to the capital to exploit him for child labour.
Street scene, Addis Ababa
Ifa was forced to work for three years without being paid any money. Life was hard; he worked long hours, he was physically abused, and his basic needs were not met.
Every day, Ifa would work for up to 12 hours, collecting plastic bottles on the streets to give to his employer.
Matiyas Girma, one of our Social Workers at Canaan Lighthouse, said: “Life on the streets became increasingly challenging for Ifa. To cope with the stress and to try to survive, he began sniffing glue, smoking cigarettes and chewing khat. These difficult circumstances continued for about 18 months.”
Note: Khat is a legal drug in Ethiopia but in the UK it is an illegal Class C drug, the lowest classification. In the United States, one of the active compounds in khat, cathinone, is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, the highest possible restriction.
It was at this time that our outreach team found Ifa. We engaged with him, telling him about our Lighthouses centres. This was a place where he would be able to find freedom from addiction, improve his health, and rebuild his life free from exploitative work.
Our team at the Lighthouse provided comprehensive psychosocial support for Ifa, including life skills training, informal education, individual and group counselling, and recreational activities such as volleyball and table tennis.
During the 45 days that Ifa stayed at the centre, he made remarkable progress and eventually found freedom from substance abuse.
In August last year, Canaan Lighthouse held a celebration to mark it’s provision of short-term aftercare to 3,000 boys since opening its doors 18 years prior; today, the team is continuing to change the lives of boys like Ifa.
When the time came for Ifa to be reintegrated with his family, his father was shocked, emotional, and overwhelmed with joy. Holding his son, he said:
“Someone once called and told me that my child had died. I cried day and night thinking I had lost him. Seeing him now is a miracle. Thanks to the Lord.”
Ifa’s father
Reunited: Ifa with his father
Today, Ifa is living happily with his parents. He has re-enrolled in school to continue his formal education, and with support, he has purchased a goat and started a small business activity to support himself.
Ifa’s journey is a powerful testimony of resilience, hope, and transformation. His story inspires us to continue reaching out to vulnerable children and supporting them towards brighter futures.
*Name changed to protect the identity of the survivor
