GIRL HUB – TIRUNESH
11382
CLIP INFORMATION
In 3.10 minutes
Out 3.40 minutes
SYNOPSIS
This is a short, day in the life-style film about a 19 year old Ethiopian woman called Tirunesh Gelaw
who supports herself through school by picking rubbish and washing clothes. Tirunesh’s back story is
harrowing – she lost her mother as a small child and was married off by her father at the age of
seven. Mistreated by her in-laws, she left to live with her aunt in Addis Ababa, but suffered abuse in
that household too. However, Tirunesh is upbeat and ambitious, getting up at dawn to pick rubbish
every day before school, making and selling paper bags to traders, and washing clothes to pay for
her education and support her brother.
Although the narrative is simple, through Tirunesh’s story we learn about the complex and multiple
problems faced by girls and young women in Ethiopia due to poverty and gender discrimination. She
highlights early marriage, discrimination against girl children, commonplace physical abuse and a
traditional lack of formal education among women and girls. But her story is ultimately one of hope,
and in nine compelling minutes, we meet Tirunesh’s teacher, neighbour, brother and one of her
customers, all of whom are inspired by her determination to become educated and get a good job.
Tirunesh’s story is part of a four-part series of films made by BBC Media Action, the BBC’s charity for
international development, to be broadcast as part of a girls’ empowerment project called
Catalysing the Girl Effect, in partnership with the Nike Foundation and the UK Department for
International Development (DFID). The subjects of all four films are young Ethiopian women who are
somehow challenging traditional gender norms in their society, and claiming their rights to respect
and equal treatment. The films were taken on a road show across the country in public screenings in
62 locations from late 2011 through early 2012, with the objective of getting communities to talk
about girls’ issues, empowerment and ultimately to contribute to changing harmful attitudes
towards women and girls.
It has also been broadcast on the BBC Media Action website – http://www.bbcmediaaction.org/
TRANSCRIPT
Voiceover:
This is the story of Tirunesh who originally comes from Gonder but now lives in Addis. We find out
more about Tirunesh as we follow her throughout her day.
Tirunesh:
I wake up at 5.30 in the morning and it takes me about 25 minutes to walk to Merkato.
Every morning I come here to collect plastic and boxes so that I can sell them on to people and on to
shops.
I use the money to pay for my education, for transportation and to buy food.
When I was two or three years old, my mother died. Afterwards I was working as a shepherd. Then,
when I was seven years old, my father forced me to marry and sent me to my husband’s house.
When my aunt came to visit us, I decided to move to Addis with her. But my father refused, saying I
could not just walk out on marriage.
I have decided to come to Addis because I was tired of all the farm duties with my father and in laws.
So I wanted to escape, despite my father’s refusal.
But things were no better in Addis because my aunt started to mistreat me. When she passed away,
her son tried to have me kicked out of the house. It was a very difficult time for me.
I have gone through many difficulties in my life.
I think that my mother’s death forced me to be strong. When you have people around you,
supporting you, maybe you don’t try so hard. I don’t have anyone so maybe I have to work hard
myself.
Voiceover:
Tirunesh is not working to win her daily bread alone. She sells sacks of cardboard and uses it to
invest in her education.
Tirunesh:
School is very important to me. If I am educated I can get a good job. Yes, I could survive just
working these odd jobs but work alone won’t help me to go far in life. If I work hard to gain
knowledge now, I will have it forever, until I am old.
Voiceover:
She never gets tired for her school after toiling for two hours. I imagine this is a life of many. What
do you think?
Tirunesh:
My teachers keep a close eye on me, supporting me and ensuring I continue my education. One
teacher in particular – Teka – I am close to and appreciate his support.
Teka Abza – Tirunesh’s schoolteacher:
Tirunesh’s experiences can be a lesson for others because they will see how she has overcome all of
the challenges life has thrown at her. They will say to themselves that it is possible to do the same –
we can go far in life if we work hard.
When they see her unbeatable attitude, her determination to go to school and the priority she gave
to her education, they will see her hope and vision and be motivated themselves.
Tirunesh:
It is really important to ensure that girls go to school because they have the possibility to go far with
an education. If a woman gets educated, she can bring a lot of positive change. And me, if I get
educated, I can contribute a lot to my community.
After school I get home around 4.30pm and then I eat something.
Voiceover:
I am impressed that she gives time for her education. Imagine hearing that she supports her brother
as well. Can you see how educated, hard working women can look after whole families and help
them thrive, whether they are married or not?
Berhanu Abebew (Tiranush’s brother):
I believe many people can learn from Tirunesh’s example. She is very clever at school and I am
learning from her how to improve my life.
Tirunesh:
It’s difficult when times are trying. Sometimes you do lose hope. My neighbour has been supporting
me for a long time, really encouraging me. She tells me not to give up.
NEIGHBOUR Kelemua Ayele:
Since I’ve known Tirunesh she was experiencing many difficulties. But by her own will and strength
she joined school and started to improve her life. I have watched this girl develop and seen her work
very hard to achieve her goals. She goes to school and supports herself by making paper bags.
Voiceover:
Tirunesh obviously has people around her who support and encourage her. I have no doubt that
they would be very proud of her. I personally am pleased to have seen her example.
Shewaneh Wolde – Tirunesh’s client
Tirunesh is exceptional because even some students who have support from their family end up
quitting school. But this young lady has perseverance and is doing everything on her own. She’s
working really hard.
When I see the way she is living and surviving, I really appreciate her. We know women and girls
have many problems in this country but she is overcoming them alone. She is following her dream to
get an education and is heading down the right track.
Tirunesh:
If I wash clothes, I can earn 50 birr a week. If I am just selling plastic and cardboard, I get 4-5 birr
each day.
Voiceover:
I am impressed to see how hard Tirunesh is working to achieve her dream. If I were a young woman I
might look to Tirunesh for inspiration. I will look out for young women like Tirunesh in my own
community to see if I can support or encourage them.
Tirunesh:
I am very happy to be independent. I work, survive and rely on myself, thanks to god. I don’t have
any problems because I am getting everything I need from my own pocket. I am really proud of
myself.