Kalkidan Kebede is a 21 year-old woman living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and is a commercial sex worker. She is one of approximately 200 young women in the slums of Addis working as prostitutes. Many of the other girls are even younger than she is.

This is not a community where you would expect to find much hope. HIV/AIDS is rampant, and many children have lost their parents. Poor housing, poor sanitation and insufficient social services characterize the community. Most of the community is poorly educated, and are unemployed or low-paid factory workers. Children who manage to attend school rarely complete high school, and many young women, such as Kalkidan, are forced to resort to the sex trade to survive. Many people here have the desire and drive to improve their community and to develop income-generating activities, but simply lack the resources they need. Shortage of capital is repeatedly indicated as an obstacle to employment and business sustainability.

Kalkidan and 3 other girls live with their children in a small hut made of corrugated iron sheets, along with the owner of the house. Kalkidan and her co-workers share one room with their children. She has a 10 month-old son, whom she takes care of.

Half of her daily income is paid to the house owner as rent, no matter how much or little she makes. Therefore, the house owner encourages her to take as many clients as possible, and not to use protection, as clients will pay more. Unfortunately, this incentive leads to a much higher risk of contracting HIV.

When Kalkidan was in the eighth grade, she was forced to quit her studies, as her family could no longer pay for it. After dropping out of school she was trained in tailoring, but didn't have the startup capital to purchase a sewing machine and other necessary materials. Kalkidan has the capacity for a career that is safe and sustainable, but has never had the means to pursue it. As a result, she ended up in the world of commercial sex. It was a last resort for a woman who desires a dignified livelihood, but had no other choice if she was to survive. It has now been five years since she entered the sex trade at the age of 16.

Kalkidan is not sure if she has contracted HIV. She lives in a constant fear of this threat, knowing that she has had unprotected sex with many men who could have been HIV positive. She is sick of the sex business and wants to quit, if she could be provided with other means. HOPE has established regular contact with Kalkidan and her housemates, and has identified their needs. With your help, HOPE will provide counseling services, further vocational training and startup capital for Kalkidan and her co-workers in the near future.

Please support HOPE's work with girls and young women such as Kalkidan.