Summer 2011: Apply to Intern and Volunteer in Ethiopia

Be among the first to take part in the Ethiopian Global Initiative’s newest project, U.S. College Students for Ethiopia!

Join a cohort of 12-15 highly-motivated, passionate undergraduate and graduate students as an intern in your field of interest: the arts, banking and microfinance, education, the media, government, NGOs, or trade and sales.

Experience life in the vibrant, multicultural city of Addis Ababa and participate in weekend excursions throughout the entire country. 

To apply, click here. The application deadline is March 15, 2011. 

For more information, contact uscse@ethgi.org

Ethiopian Global Initiative Successfully Hosts Los Angeles Networking Mixer

EGI President Samuel Gebru discusses with retired
Los Angeles City Councillor Nate Holden on EGI's
work for 2011 and how he could get involved.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Los Angeles, Calif., USA, February 26, 2011 – The Ethiopian Global Initiative (EGI), an international nonprofit organization that operates in several countries, successfully hosted its first U.S. West Coast event in the Little Ethiopia district of Los Angeles yesterday, February 25.

“The EGI Los Angeles Networking Mixer was our first outreach event in the West Coast and despite the weather it went very well,” said EGI President Samuel Gebru.

Berhanu and Getahun Asfaw, brothers and co-owners of Messob Restaurant, agreed. Encouraged by EGI’s vision, they welcomed the organization to host the networking mixer at their restaurant.

Berhanu Asfaw, who serves as President of the Little Ethiopia Business Association, welcomed EGI to Los Angeles for future events pledging to assist the organization. “You are doing great work and we will help connect you with the community here so that EGI’s mission expands to all people,” said Berhanu.

Prominent community members attended the networking mixer, including the leading filmmaker in Ethiopia, Theodros Teshome, who recently directed the movie Abay vs. Vegas that aired in the 19th Annual Pan African Film Festival.

The event featured retired Los Angeles City Council Member and the father of Little Ethiopia, the Honorable Nate Holden. Councillor Holden praised EGI’s vision and expressed his deepest appreciation for the work it aims to achieve.

When learning more about EGI’s beginnings, Holden jokingly said, “Samuel, I was about 9-years-old when I became active in my community, so you’re late to have started at 13.”

Holden endorsed EGI, agreeing that U.S. College Students for Ethiopia, its project designed to send college students to Ethiopia on intern and volunteer opportunities, is a great way to begin reversing the brain drain that damaged Ethiopia particularly between 1980 and 1991.

“EGI is doing a great working in terms of recruiting young people…to participate in supporting social programs not only for just EGI but also for Ethiopia.” He underscored his desire to help, declaring, “In fact, I plan to join them!”

The President of the Ethiopian American Chamber of Commerce, Negest Legesse, shared her willingness to work with EGI, particularly on its project the Ethiopian American Census. “We have done a lot of work in the 2010 U.S. Census and to count all Ethiopians in the United States is our goal. I am happy to share what we have done with EGI so that we can begin the steps to form a nationwide partnership,” she said.

Representatives from other nonprofits and businesses were also in attendance. They thanked EGI for the networking mixer and said that it was a prime opportunity to begin discussions on how to collaborate with others.

EGI plans to continue hosting networking mixers with partner organizations and its friends, working to expand its global reach. The events will revive existing connections and build new ones that will enrich the work of EGI.

About the Ethiopian Global Initiative

The Ethiopian Global Initiative is an international nonprofit organization that combines and captures the social and intellectual capital of students and professionals for the transformation of Ethiopia through a new generation of socially responsible leaders. Working throughout the world, the Initiative serves as a catalyst for community-based projects to promote civic engagement and economic prosperity.

Media Contact

action@ethgi.org

+1-617-528-9434

###

Ethiopian Global Initiative to Host Los Angeles Networking Mixer in Little Ethiopia

Click to enlarge.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Los Angeles, Calif., USA, February 24, 2011 – The Ethiopian Global Initiative (EGI), an international nonprofit organization that operates in several countries, will host a networking mixer in the Little Ethiopia district of Los Angeles, California on Friday, February 25 at 6:00pm. 

The event will feature EGI President Samuel Gebru, who will be joined by some of the leading members of the Los Angeles Ethiopian community as well as several business, cultural and academic community members. 

Samuel underscored the importance of the networking mixer. “EGI aims to attract driven people to this networking mixer who are willing and can contribute their skills to the growth of EGI and Ethiopia,” adding that, “this event is purposefully open to people young and old, Ethiopian and not, so we can spread awareness about EGI’s work for 2011.”

The President of the Little Ethiopia Business Association, Berhanu Asfaw, congratulated EGI, saying that it was high time for the community to utilize their skills for Ethiopia. “Messob is very happy to host the Ethiopian Global Initiative in Little Ethiopia tomorrow.”

EGI plans to continue hosting networking mixers with partner organizations and its friends, working to expand its global reach. The events will revive existing connections and build new ones that will enrich the work of EGI.

The networking mixer will be held on Friday, February 25 at 6:00pm at Little Ethiopia’s Messob Restaurant on 1041 South Fairfax Avenue. Visit www.ethgi.org for more information.

About the Ethiopian Global Initiative

The Ethiopian Global Initiative is an international nonprofit organization that combines and captures the social and intellectual capital of students and professionals for the transformation of Ethiopia through a new generation of socially responsible leaders. Working throughout the world, the Initiative serves as a catalyst for community-based projects to promote civic engagement and economic prosperity.

Media Contact

action@ethgi.org 

+1-617-528-9434

###

Tadias Magazine Interviews EGI founder Samuel Gebru

Above: Samuel Gebru, a student at Concordia College,
heads the Ethiopian Global Initiative – EGI.

New York (Tadias) – 19-year-old Samuel Gebru has ambitious plans. The Founder of the Ethiopian Global Initiative (EGI), formerly the Ethiopian American Youth Initiative (EAYI), wants to transform Ethiopia one project at a time, using strategies and programs to reverse the brain drain or retain skilled professionals at home. The undergraduate student at Concordia College, a private liberal arts school in Moorhead, Minnesota, says he was drawn to action by two events that deeply affected him when he was just 13-years old. He tells us that in 2004, he traveled to Ethiopia and was exposed to the odd juxtaposition of poverty and wealth. But the real catalyst for his organization did not come until later that year when he watched Oprah Winfrey’s highlight of the problems associated with obstetric fistula in Ethiopia. Oprah’s guest was Dr. Catherine Hamlin, the Australian gynecologist who in 1959 moved to Ethiopia and eventually founded the Addis Ababa Fitsula Hospital. “As a young 13-year-old, I was shocked to hear about obstetric fistula’s existence and I was further embarrassed that an Australian, and not an Ethiopian, committed over 50 years of her life to help the women of Ethiopia,” says Samuel. “It was shocking obviously because the last fistula case in the United States, for instance, was in the 1800s with the closing of the New York City Fistula Hospital…It was also embarrassing because when most Ethiopian professionals left Ethiopia, she stayed and did our job. Regardless, I was inspired and decided it would be best to organize an effort in the Boston area to raise funds for their work. We called ourselves the Ethiopian Team (E Team).”

Read the full article on Tadias here.

Celebrating 2010 and moving ahead at the Ethiopian Global Initiative

2011 has officially begun and we at the Ethiopian Global Initiative family would like to celebrate our achievements from 2010 before we move ahead with our goals for 2011.

2010 Achievements

Open Meetings

EGI held open meetings in Washington, D.C. and Boston in January designed to build public awareness of our projects and goals for 2010.

2010 EAYI Conference

We began planning efforts for our June conference in March. Known as the Ethiopian American Youth Initiative at the time, our goal was to change names to the Ethiopian Global Initiative, gain international exposure and networks.

Canada Outreach

In May EGI started to discuss with friends in Canada about building networks in Canada to attract new members, donors and friends. Soon, a Regional Director was appointed to help in these efforts.

Research Associate Opportunity

This past summer EGI brought on college students and graduates to serve as Research Associates in the Cambridge Office. They helped plan projects and build contacts that have continued to work with EGI.

Read more on EGI's official website by clicking here.

EGI Launches New Website

Dear Friends:

On behalf of our Communication Team's web group, I am happy to announce that the Ethiopian Global Initiative's new official website is online! Visit us at www.ethgi.org today!

Please feel free to browse through our website and don't hesitate to contact us here.

From all of us at the EGI family, happy holidays!

Thank you,

Samuel

Reflections from EGI's Boston Holiday Networking Mixer

Blayne Tesfaye introduces herself at the EGI Boston
Holiday Networking Mixer (Photo: Emily Weinstein/EGI)

By: Blayne Tesfaye

December 23, 2010

A few nights ago, a friend and I attended the Ethiopian Global Initiative (EGI) Boston Holiday Networking Mixer. As the new Assistant Project Manager of U.S. College Students for Ethiopia, an EGI project, I knew it would be a great opportunity to get to know other people who are interested in EGI’s mission. This was also an important night for me as it was the first time that I met EGI President, Samuel Gebru, in person (although we’d had a few Skype conversations!).

The mixer was held at the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAAA), an amazing venue. Having never been to an EGI event, I was not sure who would be there, but the group that attended was a great mix of motivated youth and well-accomplished professionals.

The Museum Director, Edmund Barry Gaither, started the event out with a moving introduction of Sam, and went on to say that many artists and African-American community members have a long sense of connectedness to the country of Ethiopia.

After Barry’s introduction, Sam spoke to us about the origins and aims of EGI. During his discussion of EGI, I couldn’t help but realize the immensity of the organization’s aims, and almost feel like they were a bit ambitious. I was quickly reassured, however, as Sam continued, and as I thought about my own engagement with EGI. I realized that EGI’s aims are ambitious, in a managed and coordinated way. In his discussion, Sam encapsulated what I think draws me most to EGI, which is the sense of drive and momentum.

Later on in the evening, I got the chance to speak to Barry more personally, and found out that he had obtained his MFA from the university I now attend. This of course, got us talking about the continuities and changes between then and now. I think one of those continuities is student interest in their communities and their drive to work across borders to further those interests.

I think it was in that moment that I really appreciated both the mixer and the aims of EGI the most. The mixer brought together a group of people from different backgrounds and generations to think about the common ideal of transformation of Ethiopia.

Blayne Tesfaye is a senior at Brown University and will be graduating with degrees in Africana Studies and Anthropology. With passion in human rights and public health she has extensive experience with nonprofits in the U.S. and Ethiopia. She is Assistant Project Manager of U.S. College Students for Ethiopia, an EGI project that provides college students the opportunity to intern or volunteer in Ethiopia with Ethiopian-led organizations.