Yosef's Extraordinary Journey

When Yosef Asmare joined Lelt 12 years ago, he was just seven years old – quiet, curious, and already showing signs of uncommon academic ability. What he lacked were the resources and stability to match his potential.

Yosef, in 2013 at Lelt's community center

Yosef grew up in Kara Kore, Ethiopia, raised by his mother, Abebech. After the death of her husband, she worked tirelessly to keep the family afloat while making sure Yosef and his sister stayed in school. Despite her tenacity, meeting basic needs was a daily struggle.

Through the Lelt Foundation, Yosef’s family received essential household support along with the school supplies and assistance he needed to stay focused on his education. And from the beginning, his intellect stood out. His teachers consistently noted how quickly he absorbed new material and how driven he was to excel. Lelt awarded Yosef a full scholarship in elementary school, and remained in one of the top private schools in Kara Kore through 12th grade. Yosef remained in the top three percentile of his class for his entire early academic career.

Yosef, 2018, in Lelt's community center playground

In August, he graduated from high school with one of the highest national university entrance exam scores in the country. This fall, he was admitted to Addis Ababa Civil Service University on full scholarship, where he plans to study technology. When asked about his goals, Yosef shared:

"I want to learn programming, app development, and data analysis so I can help address challenges in education and digital access across Ethiopia."

Yosef’s journey shows what happens when a child with extraordinary talent is given the support to fully grow into it. Donor contributions made his scholarship possible, provided the academic materials he needed, and continued to sustain him through university.

Yosef (middle) with other Lelt beneficiaries at a farewell ceremony before departing to their respective universities. 

Because others believed in him, Yosef is now on track to become one of Ethiopia’s next innovators — a future shaped by hard work, opportunity, and the generosity that opened the door.