Ethiopia: Going Out to the Outcasts

 For the EvaSUE group at Bahir Dar University in northwest Ethiopia, this is more than a rousing motto. Students, staff, and graduates in one of IFES’s largest national movements are living it through their loving service to the city’s outcasts. 

On the outskirts of Bahir Dar live the Negede Selam, a predominantly Muslim people who are treated as outcasts by the Orthodox Amhara locals. In fact, they consider themselves cursed, destined to live in severe poverty. Although ostracised, they’re called on to remove refuse, dispose of dead animals, and dredge up those who’ve drowned in Lake Tana.  

But Misgana* has been helping EvaSUE students to counter this prejudice and discrimination with Christ’s love. Three years ago, he went to live and serve among the Negede Selam as part of a joint venture between EvaSUE, the Horn of Africa Evangelical Mission Engagers, and Servant Partners.  

This year, Misgana has arranged for EvaSUE students to run weekly educational classes for the community’s children. Melkamu, a graduate from the university, grew up not far from the Negede Selam and was thus deeply conscious of the stigma. He was so impressed by the outreach that he donated blackboards. 

One Saturday, 45 student volunteers spent a day in the neighbourhood collecting rubbish and tidying up. Misgana notes:

“For the people living here, it was amazing – they’d never seen such care for their community. The willingness of the students really surprised them.”    

Indeed, beyond the actions, new relationships were forming.  

Through Misgana, EvaSUE students were also introduced to a bright but disabled boy called Michael. He’d been taken to school every day by his brothers. But when Michael was accepted to study at Bahir Dar University, he didn’t enrol, convinced that no-one there would help him. Misgana disagreed. He helped Michael acquire a new wheelchair and register at the university. Then, EvaSUE students enthusiastically signed up to take care of Michael. They even went to visit him and his family at weekends. Misgana witnessed the impact: 

“His mother had never had much hope for Michael, but to see these university students come to their home, sit down with them, and share the little she had to serve, really moved her.”   

This world-changing love has not only affected the lives of the Negede Selam. One student leader describes a shift in his priorities: 

“By getting to know the Negede Selam and experience their warm welcome, I’ve seen an open door here. I was planning to get a well-paid job so that I could give money to help the poor, but now I see that it’s much more important to share Jesus’ love with them and tell them about him.”   

*name changed to protect identity