Tekle was 22 when he made the desperate decision to leave Ethiopia. With no job prospects and a family to support, he paid smugglers to take him to the Middle East, dreaming of work that would change his family's fortunes.
"It was the worst decision of my life," Tekle says quietly. "I ended up in a country where I didn't speak the language, working 16-hour days for almost no pay. I was beaten, exploited, and trapped."
After three years of abuse, Tekle was rescued and repatriated through an ILO program. He returned to Ethiopia with nothing – no money, no possessions, and deep trauma.
"I was ashamed to face my family," he admits. "I had left with such hope and returned with nothing. I felt like a failure."
Through the ILO partnership, Babul Keyer USA identified Tekle for its returnee reintegration program. He received intensive training in business management and retail skills, along with psychosocial counseling to address his trauma.
"The counseling was as important as the training," Tekle reflects. "I had to heal inside before I could build anything outside."
Upon completing the program, Tekle received seed money deposited into a new bank account – one of 75 returnees supported through the ILO partnership. He used the funds to open a small shop selling household goods in his neighborhood.
"My shop is small, but it's mine," he says proudly. "I earn enough to support myself and send money to my mother. I am no longer a victim – I am a business owner."
Tekle has become a mentor to other returnees in the program, sharing his story and encouraging them to persevere. "The journey back is hard, but there is hope," he tells them. "Look at me. If I can do it, so can you."
