Si Edson ay ipinanganak sa Angola, pagkatapos maging malaya ang bansa. Siya ay isang matangkad na batang lalaki. Dahil sa kanyang taas, siya ay kakaiba. Ang mga taong nagbigay ng mga armas sa mga bata upang lumaban bilang mga sundalo sa digmaang sibil ay nagnanais na maging katulad niya.
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.
Natakot ang kanyang ina na kukunin siya, kaya nagpasya itong ipadala sa Portugal at doon manirahan kasama ang kaniyang tiyahin. Akala niya ligtas siya roon.
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.
Napakahirap noong una, dahil naaalala ni Edson ang mainit na panahon, ang tradisyonal na pagkain at higit sa lahat ang mga yakap at halik ng kanyang ina.
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.
Hindi siya gaanong marunong magsalita ng Portuges at nahihirapan siyang sundan ang kanyang mga klase at ang mga pinag-uusapan ng kanyang mga kaklase. Iniisip niya kung magandang ideya na pumunta sa Portugal pagkatapos ng lahat.
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.
Isang araw, napansin ng isang guro kung gaano siya kagaling sa basketball. Sumali siya sa isang basketball team at naging matagumpay. Naging sikat siya sa paaralan at nakipag kaibigan. Tumaas din ang kanyang tiwala sa sarili.
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.
Ngayong siya ay nasa hustong gulang na, sinasanay ni Edson ang mga batang refugee at iba pang nanganganib na maalis sa lipunan. Isang beses, ang kanyang taas ang naglalagay sa kanya sa panganib na maging isang batang sundalo. Ngayon, ang kanyang taas ay nagbibigay sa kanya ng lakas upang matulungan ang iba na maging ligtas.
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.
