Fifteen-year-old Efrem Tesfaye Ashebir lived on the street of Addis Ababa for more than three months before he joined Youth Impact’s Hope Center in 2016.

Growing up, Efrem lived in two places in Zeway with his parents and grandparents with no accountability or structure. Some of his school friends convinced him that living on the streets was exciting and that they were like a big, happy family. Efrem’s rebellious ways made it easy for him to run away, and he traveled over 150km to reach the streets of Addis.

After three months of living on the streets and begging for food, Efrem was introduced to the Hope Center program while playing soccer at a nearby churchyard near Bole. Many young people show up to play soccer and get to know the Youth Impact leaders. The leaders are faithful to play soccer every Wednesday, feeding the youth and providing showers if needed. Efrem was a frequent participant.

One day, Efrem stepped on broken glass with his bare feet. He suffered incredible pain and dealt with infection for over two weeks when he remembered the Wednesday soccer matches and returned asking for help. Ermias and Dereje, the Youth Impact leaders at the time, took him to the hospital for medical treatment.

That day, Efrem joined the Hope Center as a permanent resident. He was so thankful to have a home that he symbolically changed his birthdate to the day he joined the center, January 6, 2016.

While at the Hope Center, he attended Bible-based character development classes and night school vocational training in leatherworks. Day by day, Efrem grew stronger in his faith and developed honorable character traits, which ultimately changed his outlook and personality.
Because of the Hope Center, Efrem could dream and envision a better future for himself and others around him. Because he excelled in leatherwork, he was offered a full-time job making a salary. He completed 11th grade and graduated from a Theology program at a local Bible college.

Today, along with his leatherworks position, Efrem serves the needs of others in several ways. He teaches youth Sunday school at his church, he visits street children regularly – being a “big brother” to many, and he mentors current Hope Center boys as they learn and grow. He also reunited a teenage mother with her family after helping her with housing and basic needs.

Youth Impact leaders shared God’s love with Efrem, which helped heal a glass-cut foot and a rebellious broken heart. God’s love continues to reach others through Efrem as he serves and loves other broken, hurting young people.