|
|
|
 |
Survivor Stories
 Seleshi - Ethiopia
Seleshi knows the sting and stigma of a landmine injury. When he was 12 years old, he found a landmine on the banks of a river. It blew up in his hands. He lost an eye and both hands. Little did he know, but in that instant he lost his family too.
After three months in the hospital he was sent home to his family. He was happy to come home, but devastated and unprepared for his father’s reaction to him. He was very angry with Seleshi. He seemed to hate him and couldn’t accept the damaged son standing before him. In a fit of anger, he chased him out of the house and tried to kill him with his pistol. If he had killed Seleshi, the crime probably would have gone unpunished.
Abandoned by his family, Seleshi had to learn to fend for himself. His hands were gone, but he convinced himself to make the best of the situation.
He found a job as an apprentice in a factory that employs people with disabilities. He trained in sewing and office work, pursued his education and completed high school. Seleshi found the confidence to explore a new interest – photography. He bought a small camera and was able to make enough money to support eight family members and build his own house. LSN hired Seleshi as the official photographer of LSN-Ethiopia. He feels that everyone at LSN accepts him and other survivors tell Seleshi they are proud to know him.
View the next profile: Addise Agafari
Less than 10 percent of landmine survivors have access to proper medical care and rehabilitation. Please visit our Donate Now section and see what you can do to help landmine survivors around the world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
