Illi's Story

Illi comes from a small city in the Harar region of eastern Ethiopia. She has two brothers and two sisters. She is the second oldest child and is 20 years old. Her father is a farmer and the family owns a goat and two sheep. As a child, she took care of the animals and she knows how to milk a goat. She is a Muslim. That is why she is wearing a headscarf in the photograph. 

What is her motivation to study at the Hamlin Midwifery College? She would like to contribute to the prevention of maternal and infant death in her region. In the meantime, she is in her second year of studies. Together with eleven other midwifery students, she is currently undergoing practical training at a health station in Addis Abeba. She sometimes has a night shift.

Illi is proud that she has already been able to assist at five births. That is quite a lot compared to other midwifery colleges in Ethiopia. By the end of her studies she will have assisted at least 40 births. Illi is very enthusiastic and so it comes as no surprise that she is very happy with the college and the dormitories. The only thing that is a bit difficult for her is the cold weather in Addis Abeba. The city is located at 2300 m above sea level. It is never cold in the Harar region, which lies at a much lower altitude.