In November 2008, I launched an appeal to collect a little bit of money to help a young Ethiopian man, Zemenu Fetene, study medicine. Thank God, the response was astounding. Throughout all this time, the generosity of a lot of people was truly encouraging.

I call Zemenu frequently on his mobile phone and we also keep contact through emails. I follow the progress he is making in his medical studies, and he consistently sends over his university results. From the funds I succeeded in collecting, I pay his tuition fees and provide him with some pocket-money. A few months ago, I bought him a laptop, since he needed it badly for study purposes. This gave him immense joy. Perhaps you cannot imagine what an enormous boost this has been to him. Such a thing was unthinkable to him just a few months ago.

Lately, Zemenu sent me the photograph I am showing. Though, as you can see, he is a handsome boy, I would have wished he smiled a bit more to the camera, at least to match his joyful character. Being unaccustomed to cameras, they probably make him nervous. Notwithstanding, I appreciated the effort. Despite being very sensitive and shy, he wanted to send the photograph to please all those who generously help him from Malta.

Some time ago, Zemenu wrote me a particularly touching email, which I would like to share with you: “My dream to be a physician was my childhood dream. I do not know from where this insight dominated my mind. I lost my mother and my father because of simple curable diseases when I was just a fifth-grade student.

“Since then, before ending up at a Catholic mission (and cared for by Fr.George Grima of Gozo), I grew up in a government hospital. Imagine! Here I saw pregnant women succumb to malaria; children to diarrhoea. I lived and grew up with TB and HIV-positive patients! Still a mere boy, I saw so many scary things in that hospital. This was the time when my desire to become a doctor became more adamant.

“I do not want to see such deaths in Ethiopia or anywhere else in Africa! I need to save lives which are on the sure path towards death. This is all my dream. But it would be no more than a dream if it were not for people like you who help me to make my dream come true. I need to save children, mothers and young people! I need not see more deaths in Africa!

“I look forward to the day when you can be proud of the care which you have given. I look forward to the day when you will see patients leaving my clinic in good health. May you live forever in the knowledge that you helped people who are struggling against poverty, illiteracy and sickness. THANK YOU MOST DEEPLY! MAY GOD BE WITH YOU ALWAYS!!!”

Aren’t these words which make you want to reach out? Aren’t these words which strengthen one’s desire and will to go a bit out of one’s way to proffer help? Surely, any help given to people like Zemenu will be precious and life-saving for so many others, but also to afford this young person with salvation and dignity. Personally, I thank God incessantly for having brought me in contact with him and with a world which seems so alien to us. Moreover, I thank God for giving me people who, through their generosity, provide me with the possibility of sending money to Ethiopia to this young man of talent.

If you like, you too can give a hand. I will be much obliged. You can send a cheque or a money order at this address, Dar it-Tama, Matty Grima Street, Cospicua BML 1161, or deposit money directly to this bank account: HSBC 023-160-989-051 (reserved for this purpose). I only ask you to provide me with your name and address so that I can keep you updated as to how your money is being spent.

On Zemenu’s behalf, I thank you most heartily.

Fr Mark Montebello