Ethiopian Global Initiative Hosts Ceremony at U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa high school student, Bitanya Yosef, explains
how she thinks the paintings relate to the presentation
on the topic of Juvenile Delinquency. (EGI Photo)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, August 9, 2011 – U.S. College Students for Ethiopia (USCSE), a project of the Ethiopian Global Initiative (EGI), hosted a closing ceremony for its Youth Community Dialogue participants at the Embassy of the United States of America on Saturday, August 6.

The Youth Community Dialogue is a USCSE summer program that helps Addis Ababa high school students communicate effectively and creatively to their peers and community members about issues important to them in their local neighborhoods. Through this Dialogue, USCSE promotes a culture of volunteerism and community engagement among local youth, while developing their analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

For five weeks, 20 participants engaged in stimulating discussions and prepared presentations on issues ranging from “Youth Self-Expression” to “Juvenile Delinquency,” under the guidance of U.S. and Addis Ababa University students. Participants had the opportunity to speak and interact with Diaspora professionals that returned to Ethiopia to contribute to the country’s development. 

View full press release and pictures here.

Celebrating EGI at New York's Awash

Assistant Project Manager Blayne M. Tesfaye (R) poses
with an attendee. (See photos here)

By: Blayne M. Tesfaye

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

On Sunday night, I attended the Ethiopian Global Initiative’s (EGI) New York Fundraiser and Networking Mixer. Besides being a great opportunity to meet others interested in the work EGI does, the mixer also provided a chance to fundraise for U.S. College Students for Ethiopia (USCSE), an EGI project for which I am Assistant Project Manager.

The Awash Ethiopian Restaurant, which was generous enough to donate a portion of the night’s proceeds to USCSE, hosted the mixer. After we had a chance to eat the amazing Ethiopian food (mm…doro wat!) Samuel Gebru, EGI’s President, spoke about how EGI came to be and its importance as a global organization aiming to bring about transformation in Ethiopia.

I then had the chance to express what I think is the significance of a program like USCSE, which gives American and Ethiopian-Americans the chance to explore internships with Ethiopian-led organizations in Addis Ababa. As Samuel put it, these students and the new connections they make with Ethiopian students can play an important role in reversing the “brain-drain” of professionals from Ethiopia to Europe and the U.S.

After speaking to the group, I had some amazing individual discussions with attendees. It was great to be able to discuss the work that the USCSE team has been working hard on with people who were full of encouragement and great ideas. Many of the mixer attendees took a keen interest in USCSE’s work and were incredibly willing to do anything they could to help out with our work in whichever way they could. It was really special to have friends and family, both my own and others’, come to the mixer and really engage with EGI.

Blayne M. Tesfaye, Assistant Project Manager of EGI’s U.S. College Students for Ethiopia, is a graduating senior at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

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.