Viral fundraisers in Addis raise money and questionsCEFR A1
12 Nov 2025
Adapted from Endalkachew Chala, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Gift Habeshaw, Unsplash
- Social media fundraisers are common in Addis Ababa.
- A TikTok video was filmed in a parked car near Bole.
- The man in the video is named Tamru.
- The clip was first posted on @melektegnaw_ with about 1.7 million followers.
- The video ends with a hand pressing cash into Tamru’s palm.
- People sent money after the clip went viral.
- More than USD 1,576 moved through Tamru’s bank account.
- Other accounts got an estimated USD 2,120 to 2,425.
- The money was meant to buy a Bajaj so Tamru could work.
- Tamru says he later wired USD 1,212 and went public.
Difficult words
- man — an adult male person.
- talk — to speak to someone.talks
- illness — a disease or sick condition.
- struggle — to try hard to do something difficult.struggles
- donate — to give something to help others.donated
- hope — to want something to happen.hopes
- request — to ask for something.requests
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think people wanted to help Tamru?
- How would you feel if you received strange requests for money?
- What do you think Tamru should do next?
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