A Heart for Those Less Privileged

Santa Barbara is a beautiful place to live and grow up and we are all fortunate to live here. Gebre Medhin Beyene spoke about what it was like to grow up in Africa and the effects that his childhood had on his life. Gebre spoke about his upbringing and how the trials of early life “conditioned his life so he could have a heart for others.” Because of this desire to help others, Gebre started an orphanage with his wife for children in Africa. He said the solution “did not require lots of money, but did require lots of heart.” He and his wife started with 5 children, but now can care for over 75 children. He encouraged all Anacapa students to find a place where they can make a difference and make a decision to do it.

Student response: “Gebre Medhin Beyene from Ethiopia, who started an orphanage with his wife, had a big impact on me.  He opened up my eyes to see how privileged we are and how grateful we should be for what we have.  Just to think about growing up around wars, conflict, and famine is scary.  They had no clinic.  It makes me want to go there and help the people and give them books so they can learn.  Everybody deserves a chance to live in a place of peace.  They should have the same education as we have.  Now when I look at life, I don’t look at what I don’t have; I look at what I have and how lucky I am to have it.  I’m grateful for everything I have.  I am a changed person because of him.  I’m very grateful for my education.  I always have a motto I go by in life and my new one is “stop looking at what you don’t have; start being grateful for what you do have.”  I’m glad I got the opportunity to hear him speak.” – T. B. (grade 9)