Lyfta storyworld: Ethiopian Treasures - Ethiopia

Asalif, who lives in a simple mud hut with his mother, is viewed as an outsider by the children who live in the nearby development. He wanders around alone searching amongst the trash. The other children chide him, "Where did you get that?" asks one poking him with a stick. They are interested in Asalif and the things he makes but then tell him to "get out of here". Without other boys to play with, Asalif talks to the birds and the goats.

Asalif describes himself as a "smart city boy". He forages through the piles of discarded items around the condominium for electronics. Back at home, he works through his boxes of wires and broken parts to put together a new light for their dark hut. This is his passion and he has projects and 'treasures' all around the hut.

This is a story of changing times that highlights the juxtaposition of traditional life with modern development. Asalif is from a farming family, yet he has a fascination with spaceships and electronics and learning how things work. He uses the trash he has collected to replicate the things that he sees in the modern world. He builds a 'flying machine' from an old water bottle and broken electronics parts. Then we see a real helicopter flying above. He works on a small light made from rubbish to light the dark mud hut. Then we see the workman fixing the electricity for the huge condominium next door.