Chernet Teferra
Chernet Teferra joined the Ethiopian airforce as a driver in 1985. He was transferred to Eritrea, then one of the administrative regions of Ethiopia. Like any other employees of the Ethiopian airforce, he lived in a military camp. He met his wife Asmeret Hussen while she was working at a canteen in the camp. They got married and had one child. The married couples were earning enough to keep them. In addition the army provided free treatment, subsidised food rations and free accommodation.
In 1990, the war against the Eritrean rebels intensified. Artilleries placed at a distance were shelling the camp. During these waves of shelling Asmeret was wounded when their house was hit. Asmeret was wounded and has to be transferred to Addis Ababa for treatment. Chernet and his daughter accompanied her to Addis. When she got better, Chernet left his wife and daughter in Addis and returned to Asmara. He did not stay long in Asmara; the whole of Eritrea was taken by the Eritrean People Liberation Front (EPLF). Chernet escaped from Asmara and came back to Addis Ababa. When he cam back to Addis the army was dismantled, his job gone and so was his income. He did not receive his pension because the civil service regulation says that in order to be entitled to a pension an employee has to stay in service for at least ten years. His service was less than ten years.
Chernet started to look for a driver's job. He started working on taxis on short-term basis as 'escorta' as it known Addis. Drivers with proper driving licensee stand at specific places. Owners of taxis go to these places to find an 'escorta' to drive their taxis for a day, a week, or a month depending for how long the taxi owner needs a driver. The job is temporary, risky and unreliable. ' These days the taxi drivers young persons who are reckless but bring a lot of money to the owner at the end of the day. I am not like that. I want to drive safely but it did not help me to bring more to compete with the other drivers.' Says Chernet.
It is now 12 years since he lost his job in the airforce. During this period he has got another four children raising the family member from 3 to seven and his income not improving. Chernet earns about Birr 600 (43.19 UKP including tax) per month if he works for one full month. Therefore his income fluctuates from month to month and from year to year. The family has moved several houses mainly because of the high cost of rent or distance from a school. The family used to pay Birr 200 (14.39 UKP) for the last house they left. A relative of Asmeret who works as a maidservant has a room to live in. She had offered Cherent to bring in his family, which he accepted quickly. The children have to sleep with their nieghbour's children. Chernet believes in investing in his children's education. He thinks that the quality of education in government schools is very poor. Therefore he sends them to community schools (Community schools are run by communities). School fees in community school ranges from Birr 20 to 30. Cherenet pays Birr 65 for school fees per month for his three children. Unfortunately last year, he did not pay the entire total fee required because his income was lower than previous years. The school held their certificate until the fees are paid in full. He could not afford to do that and so the children have to stay at home this year. Weizero Asmeret would be happy to send them to government school if only the debt is paid and her children have got their certificate.