I am truly one of the luckiest beneficiaries of the Kinder Garter Program. I live in Addis Ababa, near the YMCA compound, with my husband and our daughter. We rent a single room in a modest neighborhood, trying to make ends meet. Since the birth of my beautiful daughter, my husband has been the sole provider for our family. I have not been able to work because I am the one who must stay home and take care of her.There were many times when I wished for someone to look after her so that I could go to work. I asked family members for help, but they were either unable or unwilling to assist. Hiring a nanny was never an option, as I simply couldn’t afford it. So, I had no choice but to remain at home, feeling stuck and uncertain about my future.But then, everything changed when the YMCA Ethiopia reached out. They were looking for beneficiaries for their kindergarten program and had teamed up with the local woreda office for support. One day, I received a call from the woreda Women and Social Affairs office, informing me of the opportunity. There were over 100 people at the YMCA compound, but only 36 of us were selected for this life-changing chance.I will forever be grateful to YMCA Ethiopia for offering me this opportunity. It is exactly the kind of chance a woman like me had been waiting for. Thanks to this program, I can now work while my daughter is being cared for by the YMCA’s wonderful staff. I found two cleaning jobs, and now I’m able to earn an income. It has been a blessing to support myself and my family, and I finally feel like I have some control over my future.YMCA Ethiopia has not just provided me with a job, but with a sense of hope. Now, I can balance taking care of my daughter and supporting my family, and for that, I am forever thankful.