LPM Celebrates Sheger Prison’s Very First Class of Little Learners

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On Friday, July 10, Sheger Prison hosted a milestone celebration that brought immense joy to many hearts. Six bright children, aged 4 to 6, celebrated their very first graduation from the early childhood education program run by Living Parchment Ministry (LPM). It was a day filled with proud mothers, encouraging words, and a shared sense of hope for the future of these little ones.

Light in a Dark Place: How the School Began

Sheger Prison is a large facility housing about 4000 male and 250 female prisoners. Living among the female population are children who were either born in the prison or joined their mothers there.

Before we stepped in, these little ones faced a quiet tragedy. Growing up behind bars, they had no access to basic learning. They were on a path to illiteracy, unable to learn their alphabet, basic math, shapes, or colors.

To change their story, we worked with the prison administration to completely renovate an old building they generously provided for us. We brought in a full-time teacher to offer nursery and pre-K classes, starting this little school over two years ago. About one year ago, we also began feeding the children lunch so they could have the energy to stay longer and learn.

A Graduation to Remember

The graduation ceremony was a beautiful milestone for these children. Our six graduates received brand new backpacks and special gifts, while the other 36 children who joined the celebration were blessed with toys of their own.

The ceremony was followed by a lunch for more than 50 guests. Some visiting officials from the Oromiya regional prison administration happened to be visiting Sheger Prison that day. When they were informed about the graduation, they came to witness it and were amazed by what they saw. They shared that in all their experience working with prisons, they had never seen such a ceremony or program for children.

Inspector Konjit, the head of children and women affairs at Sheger Prison, was also there. She was highly impressed by the education, the lunch program, and the great work being done. She asked us to share our future plans so the prison could help where possible.

The mothers of the children were incredibly happy and excited. Seeing their children get both an education and good food brought them immense joy.

The Prison Commissioner, Wakgari Challa, attended briefly despite his busy schedule. He signed a certificate of recognition for the ministry, which Inspector Konjit presented to our representative Dr. Gutu Amanuel. During the event, Daniel Nigussie gave a short sermon that lifted everyone’s spirits.

Looking Ahead: A Call for Room to Grow

As beautiful as this day was, it also reminded us of how much work is left to do.

Our coordinator, Lizibie Fentaw, who manages our prison ministry alongside her many other responsibilities, shared that we are already outgrowing our space. Right now, the children do everything in a single room. To run this program the way these kids deserve, we need at least two rooms: one dedicated solely to classroom lessons, and another where they can sit down and eat their lunches. We are praying for the doors to open for this expansion.

Sharing the Blessing with the Youth

After the graduation, there was some food left over. Lizibie and her group took it to a new section of Sheger Prison that houses youth prisoners between the ages of 13 and 18. About 100 young people gathered for a short program. They were so happy to receive the special meal. During the gathering, Gutu and his group sang some songs and taught the youth how to sing along with them. Lizibie shared the word of God with them, encouraging them to build their relationship with God and hold onto hope for their future, no matter their current situation.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Village

We say this often, but it is the absolute truth: we cannot do this work alone. This graduation happened because a beautiful village of compassionate people chose to care.

We want to extend our deepest, most sincere gratitude to the Sheger Prison Administration. Your willingness to collaborate, your help in securing the compound space, and your consistent encouragement have made this life-changing work possible. We are incredibly grateful for your partnership.

We also send our warmest thanks to the wonderful individuals who stand with us. We are deeply grateful to the members of the Ethiopian SDA Church in Kansas City, who diligently send financial support every single month to keep our lunch program running. Our thanks go to Medina Hussien, who has been a constant blessing by consistently providing toys and children’s items over the years, and to the Filwoha health professionals, Sister Zewdnesh, the family of Daniel Nigussie, and Muluemebet for supporting this graduation. Finally, we thank Amran for beautifully capturing the smiles and memories of this day.

To the many others who support this school through your financial gifts, daily prayers, and hands-on labor but are not mentioned here, please know we are deeply grateful for you.

Your prayers and support are changing lives, one tiny graduate at a time.

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