Welcome back to another day of change making in Ethiopia with Aanne Atomssa!
As we’ve seen over the last couple of days, items like menstrual pads and water filters can be absolutely necessary to live a safe and productive life. But we also believe life is more than just the basics, and living a dignified life also means promoting joy and fulfillment.
Before leaving on her trip, Aanne knew exactly what would be able to spark joy amongst the youth that she met. As in many places in the world, children in Ethiopia love soccer with a passion. So Aanne’s kids in Minnesota helped her pick out some balls, and she was able to bring over 40 soccer balls that she could share with the communities she visited during her trip.
People were ecstatic. “Just to get the chance to touch a ball—the smiles—it was amazing,” Aanne told us. “And I made sure they knew that soccer wasn’t just for boys. I told them that my daughter played soccer, and that she was excited they would get to as well.”
In some places, they had been sharing a single ball that looked close to collapsing. In other places, they hadn’t had a ball, and could finally come together to play. It was a delightful experience for all involved.
