एडसनको जन्म अंगोलामा भएको थियो, साे देश स्वतन्त्र भए लगतै। ऊ एकदमै अग्लो थियो। उसको उचाईका कारण ऊ अरू भन्दा अलग देखिन्थ्यो। जनयुद्धमा सिपाही भएर लड्न बालबालिकालाई हतियार दिने मानिसहरूले ऊ जस्तै केटाहरू चाहन्थे।
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.
उनीहरूले उसलाई लैजान्छन् की भन्ने डर उसको आमालाई थियो, त्यसैले उहाँले उसलाई काकीसँग पोर्चुगलमा बस्न पठाउने निर्णय गर्नुभयो। उहाँले सोच्नुभयो कि उ त्यहाँ सुरक्षित हुनेछ।
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.
त्यहाँ सुरुवाती दिनहरूमा उसलाई धेरै गाह्रो भयो, किनकि एडसनले न्यानो मौसम, परम्परागत खाना र सबैभन्दा धेरै, आफ्नी आमाको अथाह माया सम्झिन्थ्यो।
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.
उसलाई पोर्चुगलको भाषा राम्रोसँग बोल्न आउदैनथ्यो र आफ्नो कक्षामा पढाएको कुरा र आफ्ना सहपाठीहरूको कुराकानी बुझ्न उसलाई धेरै गाह्रो भएकाे थियो। पोर्चुगल आउनु राम्रो हो कि होइन भनेर उसले सोच्न थाल्यो।
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.
एक दिन एक शिक्षकले एडसनले बास्केटबल धेरै राम्रो खेलेको ख्याल गरे। ऊ त्यसपछि बास्केटबल टोलीमा सामेल भयो र धेरै सफल भयो। ऊ विद्यालयमा लोकप्रिय भयो र धेरै साथी बनायो। ऊ आफू पनि थप आत्मविश्वासी भयो।
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.
अब जब ऊ ठुलो भइसकेको छ, एडसनले शरणार्थी बालबालिका र समाजबाट बहिष्कृत हुने जोखिममा रहेकाहरूलाई तालिम दिन्छ। पहिला उसको उचाइले उसलाई बाल सैनिक बन्ने खतरामा पारेको थियो। अहिले, उसको उचाइले उसलाई आफू र अरूलाई सुरक्षित महसुस गराउने बल दिन्छ।
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.
