At first, Yalew looks down and shyly lets some of his older classmates speak for him. When he states someday he hopes to become a driver, all the other children laugh and Yalew laughs right along with them. Soon his eyes shine brightly as he talks about his new school.

Last year, Yalew walked one hour from his village to attend another elementary school with dilapidated classrooms where it was hard for him to learn. But when Glimmer rebuilt Girargie’s elementary school, Yalew switched and began walking one hour in a new direction to Girargie.

Yalew is in third grade and loves learning Amharic. He says he is happy to learn in the beautiful new buildings at Girargie. Hopefully his decision to walk the opposite way to school will mean much more for all of his life’s future directions.