Workneh Wube, aged 29, was born in 1996 in Abay Gurba, a rural kebele situated in Wogdi Woreda of the South Wollo Zone in the Amhara Region. Workneh explained that he suffered from chronic headaches beginning in 2001 and continuing for many years. Since his birthplace was located in a remote rural area without transportation services, it required an eight-hour walk to reach the nearest woreda town and access healthcare and educational services. As a result, his parents relied mainly on traditional medicine to treat his illness. Unfortunately, his condition continued to worsen, and they were unable to find an effective cure for their beloved child.
Eventually, at the age of 16, Workneh completely lost his sight as the chronic illness severely affected both his vision and balance. He explained that he could not accept his blindness and repeatedly urged his parents to take him to Addis Ababa for advanced medical treatment, hoping that his vision could still be restored.
Despite their poor economic condition and severe financial hardship, his parents collected contributions from relatives and local philanthropists to support his treatment. However, after intensive medical examinations at Minilik II Memorial Hospital, ophthalmologists confirmed that he had permanently lost his sight due to glaucoma, which was incurable.
Although Workneh understood the medical diagnosis, he refused to return home and instead continued searching for healing through holy water treatment. He traveled to different churches and monasteries in Addis Ababa and surrounding areas where such religious services were available. Unfortunately, these persistent efforts also ended without success.
It was during this difficult period that Workneh met Muluken, a blind student studying in Debrebirihan Town with the support of HPDO. Although Workneh was already beyond the usual school age, Muluken encouraged him to move to Debrebirihan, enroll at Zerayakob Primary School where Special Needs Education services were available, and seek support from HPDO.
After learning about these opportunities, Workneh moved to Debrebirihan Town and joined Zerayakob Primary School in 2014 to continue his education with the support of HPDO. Although his education was temporarily interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the death of his father, Workneh was able to resume his studies through the continuous encouragement, close follow-up, and multifaceted support provided by HPDO’s CBR workers.
Recognizing the severe impact of losing his father, which deprived him of family support, HPDO also enabled him to engage in micro-business activities so that he could generate his own income and become self-supportive. This intervention significantly contributed to the continuation of his education.
In addition, Workneh received holistic rehabilitation services essential for his academic success, including adaptive educational materials such as Braille paper, slate and stylus, and a digital recorder; training in adaptive skills; counseling; and human reading and library services.
It should also be emphasized that these meaningful interventions and achievements of HPDO were made possible through the generous financial support of FFVI and Disability Partnership Finland, which have contributed significantly to improving the lives of blind children, youths, and adults who have long been neglected.
Workneh Wube described the contribution of HPDO and its donor partners as follows:
“I understand that even family members may eventually become tired of supporting a person who remains dependent on others for many years. However, HPDO is the organization that truly understands our specific situation and the way persons with disabilities have been neglected and denied opportunities within society. They support us with patience and commitment so that we can become self-reliant. Therefore, HPDO’s contribution to improving the lives of persons with disabilities is priceless compared to the negligence we often experience from society at large.”
