By the time Heman Bekele reached 4, he was already mixing whatever he got his hands on ( detergents, soaps, household chemicals etc ) and leaving the potion under his bed overnight to find out what the concoction would turn into, such was his inquisitiveness and his love for chemicals . As he grew, so did his interest and by the time his parents had migrated to America and settled into a new life, Heman Bekele’s interest and turned into a serious passion.
The young boy who had witnessed uncovered labourers slogging it out in the fields under the fiery sun in Ethiopia, getting exposed to ultra-violet radiation and skin cancer, witnessed similar issues in America too where overexposure to the sun had dangerous implications for the skin and therefore he set out to do something on his own. His hardworking parents who had migrated to an unfamiliar country for their children’s better education, had realised that Heman was no ordinary child. As much as he was talented in chemistry, he was ambitious and sensitive too, and inspite of their humble beginnings Heman’s parents ensured that their brilliant son, continued with his love for learning and developed a sense of unwavering commitment to pursue the implausible.
Heman was aware that treatment ( imiquimod drug) for skin cancer was expensive and therefore he wanted to develop something much more affordable, available and easily usable like a soap, so that a vast majority of skin cancer patients could benefit from this life saving drug. Fortunately Heman was able to present his idea at various forums which attracted research organisations working on skin cancer. He was even conferred a $25 k prize by winning a contest organised by 3M ( Minnisota Mining and Manufacturing Co. known for its culture of innovation and investment in research and development)in 2023.
His approach to the problem and the idea of developing the magic soap was appreciated all over. However, Heman had to work under specialists to ensure that his dream turned into reality and he got his opportunity to further research and develop the soap at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School Of Public Health in Baltimore.
Heman is on a selfless mission for the larger benefit of society and its well being. Though it would take a few years before his soap is available for use in prevention and cure of skin cancer, TIME magazine thought it fit to declare Heman, now 15, as the Kid Of The Year 2024 and put him up on their cover page. Some serious motivation for the young kid and children on the whole.
I have been impressed no end by Heman’s parents and without a doubt this achievement is a testimony to their struggles, their foresight, their willingness to let their son charter his own path and their unshrinking perseverance in allowing his dream to prosper. How important it is for parents to let their children dream and back them wholeheartedly in their pursuance, cannot be underestimated.
Heman Bekele – ‘ The Kid Of The Year ‘ .
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Reference : An Article by Jefferey Kluger