A Family Restored: A girl who runs away finds a path back home and into her parent’s loving arms

Peace.  

We’re all searching for it.  

But sometimes it feels impossible to find.   

Especially for a 10-year-old girl living on the streets.  

Kuku’s* parents loved their daughter dearly. But like most families in their Ethiopian village, they barely made enough to survive.  

So, they made the heartbreaking decision to send their daughter to live with her aunt, 75 miles away, where she’d have better opportunities. 

But as soon as Kuku arrived, loneliness consumed her. She missed her parents terribly. The pain was almost too much to bear.  

Kuku tried to be courageous and make friends at her new school. But communicating was difficult since she didn’t speak the local language.  

Each day, Kuku’s homesickness grew. She finally begged her aunt to let her move back home.  

And she did. But after she settled back in with her parents, a family friend offered to take her to Addis Ababa to support her education.  

Kuku’s parents were torn. The thought of their only daughter leaving again was heart wrenching. But they knew she needed a strong education to overcome poverty. They longed to help her reach her full potential and give her a better future.  

Out of desperation, they agreed. 

But they had no idea that the friend’s home was far from peaceful—it was filled with anger, conflict, and hostility.  

Kuku couldn’t handle the constant fighting. She had no idea where to turn. She only knew she had to escape. 

So, she decided to flee.  

Living on the streets was terrifying and dangerous. Kuku felt lost, heartbroken, and alone.   

Thankfully, because of passionate trauma disruptors like you, Kuku’s story didn’t end there. 

Life-transforming Care 

On July 4, 2024, police in Addis Ababa discovered Kuku and brought her to All God’s Children International’s House of Hope, where she was welcomed with open arms.  

Dedicated caregivers provided her with safe shelter, a warm bed, and nutritious food. They also gave her a Bible and told her that God had a beautiful plan for her life.  

Despite their kindness, Kuku remained guarded. After months of instability, she didn’t know who to trust.  

But the caregivers refused to give up. They continued to show Kuku patience, grace, and compassion. They also gave her the time and space she needed to understand her feelings.  

The counselors also gave her opportunities to express herself in group therapy and develop emotional regulation strategies, which helped her manage her anxiety. 

As she grew closer to the caregivers and other children, Kuku started letting her guard down more each day.  

Kuku finally felt protected, nurtured, and safe.  

Envisioning a New Future  

Because Kuku was thriving in her new environment, she wasn’t ready to consider life beyond the home. The thought of leaving the stability she’d found scared her.  

The care team gently and consistently reassured her that reunification would only happen when she felt ready.  

As Kuku became more emotionally grounded, she grew more open to the idea of reuniting with her parents. She even started sharing details about where her village was located, so the in-country search team could begin the process of finding her parents. 

Caregivers also encouraged Kuku by showing her videos of other children being reunified with their families. Their stories gave Kuku the courage to envision a new future. A future where she would one day be reunited with her family, too.  

A Moment of Joy 

This summer, the moment Kuku and her parents had been anticipating finally arrived. Their family was reunited!  

Kuku ran into her parent’s arms of love. It was a moment of tears, restoration, and joy.  

Her parents were filled with gratitude that their daughter was safe. They were also thrilled with her progress. They could see the confidence and hope in her eyes. She was healthy, happy, and excited about the next chapter in their lives.  

Kuku’s parents welcomed guidance from social workers and promised to support her continued healing. Today, they are flourishing as a family.   

Peace that Transends Understanding 

Throughout her healing journey, Kuku also discovered God’s powerful redemption. As she learned to trust Him, she was able to find what she’d been seeking for so long—peace.  

Through quiet moments of reflection and prayer, she embraced the peace that Jesus offers. Peace that the Bible promises guards our hearts and minds and transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).  

During challenging moments, Kuku still reminds herself what she learned from caregivers at the House of Hope—that God is always near. Through her relationship with Jesus, she’s discovered a renewed sense of wholeness, hope, and purpose. And she’s found her self-worth as a cherished child of God. 

Now, Kuku is overjoyed about her future and knows that whatever comes, God will fill her with peace, comfort her with love, and empower her with strength! 

Thank you for joining the heal. Thank you for being part of the Trauma Disruptor Coalition. Until next time!

*Name changed to protect privacy.