Fellows

Ephrem has over eight years of experience in the nonprofit and social enterprise sectors. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Dire Dawa University. While working as founding Executive Director of SunEko Art for Social Development, he designed and executed a social circus for peace and development programs where children and youth can acquire the therapeutic benefits of art. Since 2013, he reached more than ten million radio listeners through a bi-weekly radio program on areas of mental health, peace, child protection, education, reconciliation, employability, and youth empowerment. He helped improve the mental and psycho-social health of more than two thousand women and youth every year, using a community-based social enterprise project. Previously, he worked as a remote Regional Content Manager for Zeno Radio, a technology-based media company. Ephrem also worked with Save the Children International, Handicap International, Population Services International, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Pact, Reach for Change, Growth Africa, and Total S.A. on human resource capacity building programs and social entrepreneurship business models. He organized a youth networking and empowerment event which reached more than five thousand youth. WHO Africa awarded Ephrem the “Top 30 WHO Health Innovator Challenge” honor in 2019. Through these diverse experiences, he developed skills in project designing and coordination, volunteer management, media, and capacity building. Ephrem is passionate about innovative projects on mental health, social entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment.

Host Organization: Making Cents International

Role at Making Cents International: At Making Cents International, Ephrem will serve as the Youth Engagement Fellow: supporting multiple youth engagement activities for YouthPower2: Learning & Evaluation (YP2LE), a USAID-funded project implemented by Making Cents International that is designed to build, expand, and disseminate Positive Youth Development (PYD) evidence and learning.

Gashaye has five years of experience in the nonprofit sector and earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Gondar and a master’s degree in social work from Addis Ababa University. While serving as the executive director of Guraghe People´s Self-help Development Organization (GPSDO), he developed and effectively implemented various projects focusing on women’s empowerment, education, social accountability, reproductive health, and population and health issues. As the executive director of GPSDO, he takes the lead role in transforming the lives of women, children and marginalized people in the rural areas of Ethiopia. Prior to GPSDO, Gashaye worked for different nonprofit organizations on child education and protection, HIV/AIDS and youth empowerment projects funded by USAID, UNICEF, DFID and other donors. He also worked as a lecturer in two public universities in Ethiopia where he developed strong research and training skills. Besides his professional career, Gashaye is a songwriter and enjoys writing poems on socio-spiritual issues.

Host Organization: United Way Worldwide

Role at Host Organization: Gashaye will represent the Africa & Caribbean Team as part of International Network (IN) Operations & Engagement. He will support Caribbean Expansion, identify funding opportunities for Network partners and drive data collection processes for the regions to inform strategic planning and recommendations.

Selamawit Mersha has seven years of experience in Program Management, Program Development and Quality in the non-profit sector. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Masters of Social Work from Addis Ababa University. Selamawit is a RISE UP Youth Champions Initiative Fellow, Alumni of Young Leaders Training Program, and Alumni of Young Policy Makers of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. Her professional background includes working on Migration, Livelihoods, Youth Development, SRHR and Gender equality programs. While she served as a Livelihood Specialist in Save the Children International Ethiopia, Selamawit improved the lives of Young Ethiopian and Eritrean migrants under the Ethiopia Migration Program supported by FCDO through Socio-economic reintegration, resilience and self-reliance programs. Previously, Selamawit improved the Sexual reproductive health and wellbeing of young people in Ethiopia through life skills, advocacy and meaningful engagement, provision of YFS and capacity building of partners through the GUSO SRHR program funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Selamawit has formed and led Youth Advocate groups for YNSD and FAWE Ethiopia who advocated for social issues such as SRHR, gender equality and meaningful engagement. Selamawit also improved the lives of young Ethiopians under projects funded by RISE UP, CSSP, Embassy of Finland and Packard Foundation. Selamawit has consulted government stakeholders, youth groups and nonprofit organizations on Program Development and Quality, Youth Engagement and Gender mainstreaming. Through these experiences Selamawit has developed skills in program management, technical and consulting expertise, and capacity building. Selamawit is interested in Youth Development, Gender Equality, and Behavioral Science.

Host Organization: ideas42

Role at Host Organization: At ideas42, Selamawit will serve as a Behavioral Design Fellow: contributing to different behavioral design projects in Global Health and participating in professional development opportunities, specifically around behavioral science and program design, with additional opportunities to contribute to research approaches.

Tigist has eight years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Education majoring information Technology from Addis Ababa University, and a Diploma in Accounting from Addis Ababa Commercial College of Commerce. She has previously worked as the Senior Grants Compliance Officer with WaterAid Ethiopia which is an international nonprofit organization concerned with the WASH crisis: water, sanitation and hygiene. Previously, Tigist worked for Pact, ICAP Columbia University and Health Poverty Action as Grant Officer and Finance Administration Officer. Her partnership experience provided a great deal of experience in bringing together institutional capabilities and human resources to tackle common problems that are often beyond the capacity of a single organization or groups. Tigist has developed strong skill in project coordination, reporting, budget preparation, grant proposal writing, fundraising techniques and grant management, for USAID, CDC, EU, and DFID donor grants. Tigist volunteers with Rotary International, and has a strong passion for education, social entrepreneurship, and gender and youth empowerment.

Host Organization: CARE USA

Role at Host Organization: Tigist will be responsible for assisting with the financial management of advocacy department of CARE USA. In addition, she will assist with monitoring and reporting of international advocacy grants, and she will have the opportunity to learn about how CARE utilizes advocacy to help achieve its mission. Tigist will also support the women and girls lead global international advocacy program—an advocacy initiative that receives quarterly reports from offices in five countries.

Yemisrach has nine years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from University of Gondar. She finished her postgraduate studies in the field of Sociology from Indra Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). While working as a Program Manager with Talent Youth Association, she led and coordinated sexual and reproductive health programs, and helped improve the health of youth. Since December 2006, she worked in different nonprofit organizations as a Monitoring and Evaluation officer, Capacity Building Officer, Evaluator, Program Coordinator, Project Officer, and also as a Social Worker. Yemisrach has extensive and contextual knowledge on youth development, sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, women’s empowerment, economic and social justice, emergency response, social accountability and good governance. Through these experiences, she developed strong program coordination and implementation, leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills. Yemisrach is interested in youth leadership, good governance, human rights, and conflict resolution. She enjoys reading, walking, and communicating with people.

Host Organization: Population Action International (PAI)

Role at Host Organization: Yemisrach will oversee the Monitoring and Evaluation of PAI’s advocacy and research work to improve reproductive health and rights. She will work with program staff to collect M&E data. She will also be responsible for synthesizing and condensing the collected data into monthly and quarterly reports.