A Daughter Who Dared to Dream: Tesfanesh’s Story

Tesfanesh grew up in Ethiopia,

watching her mother fight hard battles on her behalf. As a single parent with few resources, Tesfanesh’s mother carried the weight of their world—working endlessly, modeling resilience, and whispering courage into her daughter’s heart.

“The father is typically seen as the pillar of the family,” Tesfanesh says, “but in my case, my mother assumed the role of the pillar. To me, my mother is a hero—an incredibly strong woman who raised me alone.”

Even when food was scarce and school seemed uncertain, Tesfanesh was encouraged by her mom to “Finish your education. You can do it.”

So when Tesfanesh’s mother passed away, Tesfanesh—just an eighth grader at the time—suddenly found herself alone.

Yet she was not abandoned.

Tesfanesh was already a student at Lifesong,

surrounded by a team who refused to let her fall through the cracks.

Our team in Ethiopia became like family—providing meals, textbooks, housing, and encouragement. Through prayer, care, and community, she found the strength to keep going.

Tesfanesh finished high school, pursued her passion for fashion design, and earned her college diploma. With a sewing machine provided through Lifesong, she launched her own small business.

What began as a single sewing machine and a dream has grown into something much bigger. Tesfanesh’s goal isn’t just to support herself—she hopes to employ and train other young women in her community, offering them the same dignity and opportunity she was given.

This entrepreneurial spirit reflects the heartbeat of Lifesong: Jesus. Family. Jobs.

In Ethiopia, where poverty runs deep,

Lifesong partners with faithful local leaders who are helping rewrite stories, one child at a time.

Ethiopia remains one of the most educationally disadvantaged countries in the world—more than half of students don’t continue school past eighth grade—yet we believe education can open doors that poverty tries to seal shut.

So we start early. We teach children to read and write and dream.

“When I was at Lifesong, I received a proper education, and my character was shaped by the guidance of teachers,” Tesfanesh recalls. “It helped me foster a connection with God.”

We feed them two meals each day because hungry kids can’t focus. And when needed, we tuck them into safe homes where they’re known by name and loved like family.

Each morning begins with prayer and Scripture—because before any lesson in math or science, we want these kids to know who they are and Whose they are.

It’s not just about textbooks or classrooms—it’s discipleship, dignity, and daily bread. It’s the steady, beautiful work of the Gospel: teaching truth, feeding bellies, healing hearts, and raising a generation that believes God has not forgotten them.

Because He hasn’t. And neither have we.

Today, at 24 years old,

Tesfanesh dreams of creating clothing that celebrates Ethiopian culture and of expanding her work far beyond her community. Her faith fuels her vision—

“Jesus is my life, my strength, my everything.”

As her story continues to unfold, Tesfanesh carries deep gratitude for those who’ve walked beside her.

“I’m immensely grateful to everyone who supports Lifesong,” she shares. “We kids without parents can make a difference. We have the ability to demonstrate our strength, our eagerness to learn, and our resilience to stand and to think critically.”

Your Part in This Story

You are part of this redemption story.

When you pray and give, you’re not just funding programs—you’re fueling purpose. You’re helping young women like Tesfanesh move from survival to strength, from loss to leadership.

You’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia, declaring that every child deserves a chance to learn, to thrive, and to know the love of Jesus.

Hope is contagious, and it spreads through hands and hearts like yours.

Tesfanesh’s story is one of courage rising from fear, of beauty born from ashes. Because of generous supporters, she has been able to walk into a future her mother could only dream of for her.

Thank you for being part of stories like this one.