Yemane Berhe’s life as a Real Change vendor may not be easy, but it’s been a lot harder.
Berhe was born in Eritrea during that country’s 30-year war for independence. The war left Eritrea’s economy in shambles. Berhe left in 1985 with his mother, brother and sisters for Sudan, one of the poorest countries on Earth. Life was difficult in Sudan, too, so in 1992 he left for the United States, where he settled in suburban Maryland and drove a taxi for 17 years. ...