“When I came back and we started working again, it gave me hope.”
Conflict and Devastation
When conflict swept through BirBir in northern Ethiopia in 2020, it didn’t just destroy buildings, it shattered lives, dreams, and the fragile sense of security in the community. The local health clinic, a vital resource for young people, was among the many structures destroyed.
A Tragic Memory
Aberaw Mamo, a 24-year-old nurse, recalls the devastation:
"We could not aid her,” he says, remembering a 14-year-old girl who had been raped. The clinic had been looted and was no longer operational. “We could only refer her to another facility, and she died before she could get there.”
For two years, the clinic staff were displaced, uncertain if they would ever return.
"We never thought this place would provide any more services,” Mamo says.
Rebuilding Hope
With support from Oxfam, Pathfinder International, and funding from the Canadian government, the community rebuilt not just a clinic, but a sanctuary. A new three-room reproductive health centre now stands where rubble once lay—offering privacy, dignity, and a safe space for young people.
Youth-Centred Care
Nurse Bethlehem Feleke, known as Betty, works at the new facility.
"Since we got these three rooms, we are really exhilarated,” she says.
“We can talk freely, there is some privacy, and the youth have a place to meet and learn.”
Youth-Centred Care
Nurse Bethlehem Feleke, known as Betty, works at the new facility.
"Since we got these three rooms, we are really exhilarated,” she says.
“We can talk freely, there is some privacy, and the youth have a place to meet and learn.”
Visible Impact
- Teen pregnancy rates dropped from 19% to 9.7%.
- 25 peer educators now provide life skills training and raise awareness on sexual and reproductive health.
- The clinic is nurturing not just physical health, but resilience and confidence in the community.
Looking Ahead
Atsede Bere, a young mother of two, beams during her visit:
"When we are sick, we get treated here. We also learn how to plan ahead with our husbands and understand contraception.”
For Mamo, returning to the clinic has restored his hope.
"I felt really hopeless when I left,” he says. “But when I came back and we started working again, it gave me hope.”
A Community Transformed
Today, BirBir is healing. What was once a place of loss is now a beacon of recovery—proof that even after conflict, dignity, care, and community can be rebuilt.
