Edson piştî ku welat serxwebûna xwe bi dest xist, li Angola ji dayik bû. Ew xortekî pir dirêj bû. Ew ji ber mezinahiya xwe rawesta. Yên ku di şerê navxweyî de çek dan zarokan da ku wek leşker şer bikin zarokên wek wî dixwestin.
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.
Diya wî ditirsiya ku ew wî bigirin, ji ber vê yekê wê biryar da ku wî bişîne Portekîzê ku bi xaltîka xwe re bijî. Ew fikirî ku ew ê li wir ewle be.
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.
Destpêkê zehmet bû, ji ber ku Edson bêriya hewaya germ, xwarina kevneşopî û ya herî zêde jî, hembêzkirin û ramûsandina diya xwe kir.
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.
Ew baş bi Portekîzî nizanibû û di şopandina dersên xwe û axaftinên hevalên xwe de demek pir dijwar derbas bû. Wî meraq kir gelo fikreke baş e ku were Portekîzê.
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.
Rojekê mamosteyekî ferq kir ku ew di basketbolê de çiqasî baş e. Ew beşdarî tîmeke basketbolê bû û pir serkeftî bû. Di dibistanê de navdar bû û hevalên wî çêbûn. Ew jî bêtir ji xwe bawer bû.
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.
Niha Edsonê ku mezin bûye, zarokên penaber û yên din ên di xetereya dûrketina civakî de ne perwerde dike. Demekê, bilindbûna wî ew xiste ber xetera ku bibe leşkerekî zarok. Naha bilindbûna wê hêz dide wê ku alîkariya kesên din bike ku xwe ewle hîs bikin.
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.
