Being selected to YALI has been an amazing ride especially because you get to meet great young African minds who are transforming their countries and Africa as a whole. Yillikal Hassabbie is one of them and his story is mind blowing.
My name is Yillikal Hassabbie, currently participating in president Obama’s YALI program. I was born in a rural area of Ethiopia to farmers. When I was five years old, I lost my sight due to measles. We were very poor and had no money to visit hospitals that were located far away. After this unfortunate ordeal, the best decision was to enroll me to a boarding school for the blind which was a bit far from home and all my aspirations seemed to have died that instant. I had no dream as a child, all I could think of was how my family was surviving due to lack of money and extreme poverty.
When I later joined secondary school, I began to dream and to spot and seize opportunities. After school, I joined a teachers training college, got my diploma and began teaching history in high school. This was hard especially with a salary that was not sustainable but I still managed to join university on the side to pursue my dream of becoming a lawyer.
I graduated and became a zonal public prosecutor for three years and mark you I was also doing my Masters in International law at the same time. I later became one of the top regional prosecutors in Ethiopia.
Here I am, one of the most highly paid prosecutors but I was feeling empty, a void I cannot explain. I decided to follow my dream and passion of helping others. I joined different universities as a lecturer of law which I really love by the way and as we speak, I am also the vice chairperson of an Ethiopian Association that works with the blind. My work involves teaching and learning, community servicing which involves training and advocacy and research on main mandates.
I heard about the YALI program from a friend who attended the Mandela Washington Fellowship last year and I decided to apply, my first application was unsuccessful but the second one got me here. The experience has gone beyond my expectations. My vision has changed, my leadership skills will definitely change. There will never be comfort zone again in my life.
My plans in the near future is to move my association to accommodate all blind people in Africa. I want blind kids to dream and know they are worth it. Every African dream must be fulfilled. I encourage all young Africans to be passionate, confident and purposeful.
Everyone was created for a purpose and we must search and accomplish it. When I think Africa, I think of growth, optimism and bright futures.
