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.
In 2006, he was splitting up with his wife and the taxi business wasn’t going well. A countryman in Seattle was encouraging him to come — so he did. He joined Real Change in 2009. In 2019 he was chosen by his peers as one of the Vendors of the Year.
A few months later, his mother became ill. He went back to Sudan to help care for her until she died. He returned to Seattle and resumed selling Real Change.
What does Berhe like about selling Real Change?
“It’s my income!” he said. “It’s how I pay my rent and how I send money to my sister still in Sudan.”
His regular selling spot is outside the Trader Joe’s in Shoreline, where he works five days a week throughout the year. In the summer, Berhe works seven days a week, selling at the U District Farmers’ Market on Saturdays and the Ballard Farmers’ Market on Sundays. He’s also driven a cab in Seattle and has sold cookies and Street Treats ice cream. He can’t eat the ice cream, he said, because he’s vegan.
Berhe is looking forward to when the farmers’ markets open again, although he likes working with the manager and staff at Trader Joe’s. He enjoys his colleagues at Real Change, too.
He’s hoping to bring some of his remaining family members to Seattle, where he can help look after them.
Yemane Berhe’s badge for Venmo payments is 11505.
Update: This article has been updated to reflect the year that Berhe started at Real Change, the year he and his wife divorced, his mother's illness, the family members whom he helps support and the name of the company whose ice cream he has sold. The newspaper regrets the error.
Susan Storer Clark is a contributor and writing coach for Real Change. A former broadcast journalist, she is currently at work on her second novel.
Read more of the Mar. 22-28, 2023 issue.