Edson ee dhiëth pan cɔl Angola, ka pan Angola wic bë tëkbei. Eye dhɔ̈ŋ bäär apεi. Wɛ̈tden bɛ̈ɛ̈r ɣen go guɔ a ŋic. Kɔc ke ye dhɛ̈ŋ gäm miith bik lathɔ̈ɔ̈r ke ye jeec tɔŋbai ɣic ake ye wic dhääk cït Edson.
Edson was born in Angola, just after the country became independent. He was a very tall boy. Because of his height he stood out. The people who were giving weapons to children to fight as soldiers in the civil war wanted boys like him.
Maan e ye riɔ̈ɔ̈c lɔnadë ka bïk nyai, go cɔl ala rëër pan Portugal kek wεεj. E ye luel tεkdë cïïn kërεεc bë ɣen layök etɛ̈ɛ̈n.
His mother was afraid they would take him, so she decided to send him to live in Portugal with an aunt. She thought he would be safe there.
Gölde tuεŋ ee rilic tän Edson ee rilic wɛ̈tden cïï yen atuɔ̈j piny, cäm bai panden, ku päädic kek ciëmthok maan tak.
It was very difficult to begin with, as Edson missed the warm weather, the traditional food and, most of all, his mother’s hugs and kisses.
Ee kuc thoŋ portugal apath. Ee rilic täde bë käken piööc deetiic ku jam kek kɔc ye kek piɔ̈ɔ̈c tök. E ye gäï lɔnadë bɛ̈nde Portugal piεth.
He did not speak Portuguese well and found it very hard to follow his classes and the conversations of his classmates. He wondered if it was a good idea to come to Portugal after all.
Akäl tök go wuthadh den piööc tïŋ kaye ŋiεc thuëëc kura e gäc. Go Edson rot mat akuut thuëëc kura e gäc ku ŋiic latuεŋ. Go guɔ ŋiic thukulic ku yök pamääth. Ku yen aya go ye puou cïï e bεn dääk.
One day a teacher noticed how good he was at basketball. He joined a basketball team and was very successful. He became popular at school and made friends. He also became more confident.
Emεn cï ɣen ya raan cë dït, Edson e miith kɔc cïï tɔŋ ke cop piɔ̈ɔ̈c. Ɔn thεεr, bɛ̈ɛ̈rde e wic bë ye tääu jeecic. Emεn, bɛ̈ɛ̈rde e yen gäm riεl bë kɔc kɔ̈k ya kuɔny.
Now that he is an adult, Edson trains refugee children and others at risk of being excluded from society. Once, his height put him in danger of becoming a child soldier. Now, his height gives him strength to help others feel safe.
