10yr old street child working to help support my family in rural & remote Ethiopia, AMA

What is your favorite thing to do for fun?

(she has trouble answering this question)

How does your society perceive first-world countries?

America is the best country. (note: this is really what she said)

Why America?

(it's the only foreign country she knows)

What is the happiest memory you have?

My happiest time is today because I can share things about my life and people are very interested.

What is your name?

Meseret Tigabie

What is the most valueable Thing she owns?

We don't have a tv but we do have a tv stand.

What is your biggest fear?

Buildings. I'm afraid of falling down from them.

does she still have a short on water and food?

Yes. (note: when we gave her water, we saw her go to give it to her brother)

[deleted]

I want to have my own place at the market so I don't have to do pity trades any more.

How can you get a place at the market?

presumably having a stall and paying for a spot.

I wonder how much one Of those spots cost.

[deleted]

How can we make this happen Translator Person

Unfortunately it wouldn't be legal for her to have a spot at the market at such a young age. But the parents would be able to get one. Space would be rented and would be very costly. In the center it can be around $300/month (for big businesses). Further away it'd be around $50.

Do you know that there are people thousands and thousands of miles away that really care about you? x

(she gets really shy when asked this question)

What have been her biggest challenge in life so far?

Having no pens or books for school.

What sort of work do you do to support your family?

I do pity trades to support my family but when I grow up I want to support them with my restaurant. (translator note: pity trades = selling little pendants etc)

If you want to have a restaurant, you probably like to cook. What is your favorite dish to make?

Meat with injera.

do you like to dance?

Yes.

Do you have any long-term goals your are working towards? Do you get a chance to think about and prepare for the future?

I'd like to become a doctor. I'd also love to have a restaurant.

What are they learning in schools? What subjects do they teach?

Maths, environmental science (note: for example hygiene and sanitation), Amharic (note: local language), art, English.

[deleted]

I have no question but I would like to say thank you.

Who is the biggest idol in your life?

My father.

Does Athene scare you?

Yes.

Does she have any favorite stories?

My favorite story is the Tom & Jerry film, I'm watching it with people in the neighborhood.

If you had a plane ticket for yourself and family, This ticket is open and you can go anywhere in the world. Where would you like to visit?

America.

Are there people that are treating you badly when you are doing pity trades?

They feel bad because I'm doing this while I'm very young.

Would you like to type on the keyboard?

I don't want to because I don't know anything about how to type on it.

How do you see your life in the future?

I expect to have a good life in the future and I am dreaming that way.

A question to Athene, what exactly can we do to help this kid? Also the charity program is running for a while and this kid is still working on the street. I understand that you cant help everyone but are there any concrete projects in the planning of helping her and other kids who have to work on the street?

It is exactly because there are people like her that aren't reached yet that we're fundraising so that more of them can get helped. And the reason why we picked her is to raise awareness around the very common situations of all of those who aren't reached yet. This entire event and us traveling to Ethiopia and trying to livestream & fundraise is part of our efforts to actively do something about it.

Where can I donate? Which percentage of my donation will go in the hands of these people?

You can donate at http://www.GamingForGood.net/ , all donations go directly to Save the Children and here you have an overview of program expenses and where the money goes: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4438#.VEJP4_nLfYg (this is an independent charity auditing site).

How much $ does she make?

One to two dollars per day. (note: total gross, not profit, she doesn't know what the profit is)

How does she feel when people not from her town come to her town?

I feel good when people come from other places.

Would you like to come to Australia?

I don't know Australia.

What and how do you get news about the world? Is it from other people or newspapers or some other way?

I get information talking to family and friends.

What's your favourite food?

Testy soya. (note: seems to be a brand name)

Does she enjoy life?

I'm happy with my life.

Does she understand anything athene is saying?

No.

do you know much about the electronics you see Athene using?

No, I haven't used any of those.

Where's the furthest place you've travelled?

I have travelled to a nearby district called Woreda.

Do many of your friends and extended family also street trade? Is it mostly young kids or do you find older people taking part?

Mostly adults. And also my older brother. (13yrs old)

Is there a school? Or can you even go to school?

to Athene: Even if people hate you for your online persona, keep doing what you are doing!

Yes. (note from translator: she goes to a public school, courses are free but the quality is not comparable to private schools)

How is the neighbourhood where you live, do you have a lot of friends, are the people friendly?

I have some friends but the I am not so close with the neighborhood. (note: relationship with the neighborhood is not friendly)

What is the life in Ethiopia?

It is not bad.

Who does she live with?

With my family. (father, mother, three brothers)

Where did she get her cool hat?

I got it from Vishna. (Save the Children worker who organized the trip for us)

If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?

I'd like to have my own house.

What is your favorite super-hero (maybe there are local ones)? And why that one? Greetings from Vienna!

My father.

What do you know about astronomy and space?

I look at the moon and the stars but I don't know much about it.

Have you ever been to a hospital?

No.

What is their biggest dream?

My dream is to support my family.

What's the best thing that's ever happened to you and your family/friends?

The time I passed from grade 3 to grade 4.

How many hours a day do you spend at school, and do you have much free time? What do you like to do in your free time?

I go to school at 7 and at 12 I come back. From 12 to 5 I rest and help my family. From 5 to 9 I sell things.

In what kind off house does she live in?

I'm living in government house that is given to poor people.

If you could change something in your town, What would it be?

I would love to change where I live.

What is the most thing you need?

Learning and attending class.

Away from your troubles, what keeps you going? That one thing you look forward to every single day.

School.

Do you like animals? if yes, what is your favorite?

I like animals. The ones I like most are goats.

What do your parents do?

My mother makes and sells injera, my father sells wood that he brings from other places.

What do you sell at pity trades?

Chewing gum and tissue paper.

Does she even know how many people are watching her?

I am new to all this and don't really know what's happening but you told me many people are reading.

Where do you sleep? Who do you live with?

I have a bed that I share with my family.

Did she ever see the ocean ? or the moutain or things like that ?

I have not seen these things.

From what age on did you start taking care of your family?

I started working at home since I was 6 and started pity trading last year.

What do you think about the fact that many Americans aren't happy with their lives, even though they have so much?

(this is a difficult question for her, she has a hard time understanding it)

Do you have access to a smartphone or pc?

No.

Proof? Can we please have this kid hold up a card with their reddit username and current date please? How do we know that they are in rural Ethiopia?

This is just a photo of someone in a non-descriptive background standing in front of a laptop with reddit loaded up.

We're right now actually trying to livestream this and fundraise, connection is spotty but you can see us at http://www.GamingForGood.net/2014 . For more context: www.savethechildren.org/athene

Did you drunk Coca Cola?

No.

How old is she?

I'm 10.