Klaudia Paiha

secretary

federal secretary of the Austrian Trade Union Federation

If you would have asked me in the past if I would have considered traveling to one of the poorest countries in the world as a tourist, I would have said no. To my own surprise, however, I did it.

I explored Ethiopia not as a traditional tourist, but more as a student seeking an education. During my travels, I fell in love with a country whose people embraced me in their homes and allowed me the chance to participate in their daily lives. One of the things I observed here was the need for economic support in many families. After all, the reason that many children are taken from school is because their parents need them to work to make ends meet. Small kids can be seen working as a shoe cleaner or a bus aide. Without the extra money coming from the children, some of these families cannot survive. Therefore, MyHope, for me, is a very important project as building a future in Ethiopia is difficult; and, it is even more so without an education. As a trade unionist, I know that education is an essential prerequisite for someone taking their life into their own hands. I would like to give this necessity to the children of Ethiopia.