Ethiopia shoe shine girl: one mother’s struggle is an unlikely story of hope

Eliza Anyangwe, for CNN
4 minute read
Updated 3:11 PM EST, Mon February 1, 2016
In December 2013, Ethiopian photographer Hilina Abebe, met 19-year-old mother of one, Meseret, who shined shoes to provide for her nine-month-old baby girl, Meron. After losing touch, the photographer and a now 21 year-old Meseret reconnect in late 2015. The pictures are taken from Abebe's documentary photography series, Shoeshine Girl, and all the quotes are of Meseret speaking, except when specified otherwise.
In December 2013, Ethiopian photographer Hilina Abebe, met 19-year-old mother of one, Meseret, who shined shoes to provide for her nine-month-old baby girl, Meron. After losing touch, the photographer and a now 21 year-old Meseret reconnect in late 2015. The pictures are taken from Abebe's documentary photography series, Shoeshine Girl, and all the quotes are of Meseret speaking, except when specified otherwise.
Hilina Abebe
Meseret carries her nine-month-old daughter, Meron, on her back as she waits for a customer in Piassa, Addis Ababa.<br />"I came to Addis Ababa four years ago [in 2009] from a rural town, called Dire, in search of a better job. At first, I found temporary jobs as a maid. I had to endure a lot of hardship, being so young, and for being a woman. And one day, I had nowhere to go. I ended up on the street. That is where I met the father of my child. He gave me a sense of security but he was not always around."
Meseret carries her nine-month-old daughter, Meron, on her back as she waits for a customer in Piassa, Addis Ababa.
"I came to Addis Ababa four years ago [in 2009] from a rural town, called Dire, in search of a better job. At first, I found temporary jobs as a maid. I had to endure a lot of hardship, being so young, and for being a woman. And one day, I had nowhere to go. I ended up on the street. That is where I met the father of my child. He gave me a sense of security but he was not always around."
Hilina Abebe
Baby Meron's food sits on the box her mother uses to clean shoes.
Baby Meron's food sits on the box her mother uses to clean shoes.
Hilina Abebe
From shoe shining, Meseret earns on average 30 Ethiopian Birr ($1.50) per day which she uses to support herself and her child. <br /> "After saving up some money working as a day-laborer, I bought all the tools I needed to start shoe shining. I was still living on the streets at that time -- and I was pregnant. But I wanted to make sure I could raise my child off of the streets."
From shoe shining, Meseret earns on average 30 Ethiopian Birr ($1.50) per day which she uses to support herself and her child.
"After saving up some money working as a day-laborer, I bought all the tools I needed to start shoe shining. I was still living on the streets at that time -- and I was pregnant. But I wanted to make sure I could raise my child off of the streets."
Hilina Abebe
As Meseret waits for a customer on the streets of Piassa, an old neighborhood in Addis Ababa, she enjoys a moment with her daughter. <br /> "I couldn't afford a day off. I shined shoes right up until the last few hours before I gave birth. Less than a week after having Meron, I went back to shining shoes in Piassa. Meron would sleep on back as I worked. I constantly had to take care of her, feed her and make sure she was okay -- while I tried my best to earn enough money for the day."
As Meseret waits for a customer on the streets of Piassa, an old neighborhood in Addis Ababa, she enjoys a moment with her daughter.
"I couldn't afford a day off. I shined shoes right up until the last few hours before I gave birth. Less than a week after having Meron, I went back to shining shoes in Piassa. Meron would sleep on back as I worked. I constantly had to take care of her, feed her and make sure she was okay -- while I tried my best to earn enough money for the day."
Hilina Abebe
Meron stands on Meseret's shoe polish.
Meron stands on Meseret's shoe polish.
Hilina Abebe
Meseret contemplates as she waits for a customer. <br /> "Being a shoeshine girl is not common here. People prefer to get their shoes shined by men. Sometimes the shoeshine boys tell me to go away and find another place to work because they feel like I am taking away their income. Mostly I just ignore them but sometimes I do have to leave. But not all of them are mean to me. Some actually care. They hold my daughter for me while I work."
Meseret contemplates as she waits for a customer.
"Being a shoeshine girl is not common here. People prefer to get their shoes shined by men. Sometimes the shoeshine boys tell me to go away and find another place to work because they feel like I am taking away their income. Mostly I just ignore them but sometimes I do have to leave. But not all of them are mean to me. Some actually care. They hold my daughter for me while I work."
Hilina Abebe
Meseret soothes her baby to sleep while waiting for customers.
Meseret soothes her baby to sleep while waiting for customers.
Hilina Abebe
In 2014 in their one-room home, where the walls are covered with religious posters and pictures of hip-hop stars.
In 2014 in their one-room home, where the walls are covered with religious posters and pictures of hip-hop stars.
Hilina Abebe
After losing contact with Meseret, Abebe is able to find them in October 2015. Meron is now two years and eight months-old, and still spends her days with her mother at work. While waiting for shoes to shine, Meseret crochets cloths which she sells to earn additional income.
After losing contact with Meseret, Abebe is able to find them in October 2015. Meron is now two years and eight months-old, and still spends her days with her mother at work. While waiting for shoes to shine, Meseret crochets cloths which she sells to earn additional income.
Hilina Abebe
After a day for work, Meseret walks back to her home with Meron on her back.
After a day for work, Meseret walks back to her home with Meron on her back.
Hilina Abebe
Meseret cooks dinner for her and her baby while Meron snacks on a biscuit.
Meseret cooks dinner for her and her baby while Meron snacks on a biscuit.
Hilina Abebe
"Being a mother has made me more thoughtful. I put Meron first to the best of my ability. No matter how difficult my circumstances can get, she reminds me that I have to carry on because I am the only one she has in this life."
"Being a mother has made me more thoughtful. I put Meron first to the best of my ability. No matter how difficult my circumstances can get, she reminds me that I have to carry on because I am the only one she has in this life."
Hilina Abebe
"Being a shoeshine girl isn't common here"

Story highlights

Ethiopian photographer HIlina Abebe tells the story of Meseret, a 19-year-old shoeshine girl

Images captures a young mother's story of struggle, hope and survival

CNN  — 

In December 2013, Ethiopian photographer Hilina Abebe began documenting the life of 19-year-old Meseret, a single mother who shines shoes for a living while her daughter sleeps on her back.

After losing contact, the pair reconnected last year, and Abebe continued shooting her powerful series of black and white images, depicting the life of a shoe shiner in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

Above is a gallery of some of her beautiful images.

Q&A with photographer Hilina Abebe

Hi Hilina, tell me about yourself.

I am 29, I was born and raised in a small town called Debre Zeit, 47km south of Addis Ababa. I work full time for a non-profit organization and currently studying my Masters in social work at the same time. And, I take pictures in my free time.

How long have you been a photographer?

I used to take pictures with a point and shoot camera when I began to produce a small newsletter. I got lots of positive feedback. Now it has been almost three years since I picked up my first DSLR and started to use photography as a medium to express my self and what I see everyday in my society.

Have you had any training?

I have taken part in two workshops. The most recent one in November 2015 was called the Pan-African Workshop for Professional Media Production and was organized by the United Nations agency, UNESCO. Both were crucial in helping me find my voice and guiding me on what I want to do with my photography career. The UNESCO workshop particularly enabled me to learn from some of the best international photographers in the industry, such as Russell Fredrick, Shawn Walker and Ruddy Roye.

Photographer, Hilina Abebe. Abebe says: "Meseret's story sheds light onto the lives of many whose stories are not told, just because their poverty is considered ordinary. But Meseret's courage, hope and love for her baby is nothing short of extraordinary."
Photographer, Hilina Abebe. Abebe says: "Meseret's story sheds light onto the lives of many whose stories are not told, just because their poverty is considered ordinary. But Meseret's courage, hope and love for her baby is nothing short of extraordinary."
Hilina Abebe

What made you want to tell the story of the shoeshine girl?

The first time I saw her, I knew her story had to be told. She had her baby sleeping in a very beautiful protective tent as she waited for customers. The fact that she was so young, responsible and courageous enough to provide for her self and her baby, and not beg on the street made me see that there are so many strong Africans like her who are resilient and want to change their circumstances. The fact that she is a girl and a shoe shiner was also unique because the job is mostly held by men.

How did you get to build a relationship with her?

I learned about her from another student taking part in a photography workshop. I asked where she worked, went up to her and introduced myself! She was very willing to collaborate with me. I told her I wanted to show who she was as a person and what her life was like. So I gained her trust from day one - she even defended me the first day when people questioned what my intentions were.

I was also not just a photographer when I meet her. I also wanted to listen to her story, her experiences, her worries. I related to her as another human being. The fact that I am also a woman might have helped us build trust and a relationship.

Do you have a favorite image? If so, which one and why?

Yes, the image of her child, Meron’s first birthday, where they were both blowing out the candle in Meseret’s shanty house. For me that image tells of who she really is, not just a shoeshine girl but also a loving mother who goes the extra mile to give her daughter the childhood she herself never had. I also learn in that one image that no matter how little you have, you can choose to be content.

How has meeting ‘the shoeshine girl’ changed you?

Working with her has been a blessing. Every time I talk to her she teaches me about persevering, having courage and having faith. She is one of the few truly optimistic people I have met in my life. She is a living inspiration. As documenting her life was the first challenge I set myself as a photographer, I have learned to go out of my comfort zone and be able to answer to myself and others why I want to photographer. It’s to find the humanity in lives as hard as Meseret’s.