Genet Damtew, Ethiopia

“I love my country and people, but it is not somewhere that I can live anymore considering the current Ethiopian situation. There has been a serious deterioration of security with the same ruling party remaining in power. People are targeted, detained, and persecuted just because of their ethnic background. After I lost my eldest daughter, my feelings towards Ethiopia changed. I became depressed and permanently stressed. There is no peace in my country. I cannot understand why people are divided by religion or their ethnic background. This is not important as we are all one people.
I do not hate my country, but blood has been shed for the wrong reasons. I no longer wanted to live in Ethiopia because it was not safe. I struggled to find any work because of my deafness. There is very little support for interpreters for interviews. The current government is not giving any attention to the deaf community.
I managed to escape to the U.S. where I now hope to find a job. My sister is the youngest, but she looks the oldest because she is working all hours to support me and her family. There is no way that I want to ever go back to that country, but I do want my youngest daughter to come here. I cannot help feeling guilty that my family is suffering from our separation.
The projected photograph is of my youngest daughter. It is a recent picture that I have on my phone. I have not met my daughter for five years. It reminds me about how important family is. She is growing up without me and always tells me on the phone that she misses me. I also miss my adoptive daughter. They both worry about my health as my heart longs to be with them.”