Ethiopia - Yonas Tadesse
Yonas Tadesse's story
Yonas Tadesse was raised as a foster child in Ethiopia. Never vaccinated, Yonas contracted polio at a young age leaving him with a lifelong disability. Like so many disabled children in Ethiopia, he was excluded from sports and play activities as his teachers encouraged him to sit out sessions. Yonas says, "the teachers did so to be kind but it was painful for me… I was very discouraged and alienated. I was always worried and frightened when physical and sport education class came up.” When approached to become a volunteer Coach for Right To Play, Yonas "could not believe that this chance was granted to me as I was looking down at myself, and I thought it will not be possible." But by the end of training, Yonas had developed the self-confidence, enthusiasm and motivation to say "why not… I can do it."
Yonas progressed remarkably throughout the training and was soon starting his own programme enlisting disabled Ethiopian children in sport and play activities. As is so often the case, he initially encountered 
resistance from the community - stigma around disability remains strong in Ethiopia. Still Yonas was not to be beaten; challenging his community and building up his programme to become a great success.
With Right To Play’s help, Yonas has gone from being shunned by his peers to being a role model in his community. He runs an extensive programme catering to children of all abilities and was recently promoted to a Coach Trainer position from which he teaches new leaders how to carry the power of sport to disadvantaged children. As a fully trained leader, Yonas is able to give disabled children opportunities he never had: the right to learn, hope and play.
Ethiopia, January 2009
resistance from the community - stigma around disability remains strong in Ethiopia. Still Yonas was not to be beaten; challenging his community and building up his programme to become a great success. With Right To Play’s help, Yonas has gone from being shunned by his peers to being a role model in his community. He runs an extensive programme catering to children of all abilities and was recently promoted to a Coach Trainer position from which he teaches new leaders how to carry the power of sport to disadvantaged children. As a fully trained leader, Yonas is able to give disabled children opportunities he never had: the right to learn, hope and play.
Ethiopia, January 2009
