Interview with President of AHEAD

Mr. Temesgen - In 1999, AHEAD was founded at a one-hour meeting of three Ethiopians who came together during a lunch break to discuss how the Ethiopian Diaspora can contribute towards development in Ethiopia. No fanfare, no membership fee or member recruitment. Just a commitment.

Today, AHEAD has eight committed members who share the same commitment and have a common vision. AHEAD is also supported by 40 Friends of AHEAD who believe in its cause and are prepared to extend a helping hand when they are called upon.

EthiopiaFirst - What are your primary achievements so far?

Mr. Temesgen - AHEAD does not claim to have achievements. AHEAD can only contribute. However, the contributions of Ahead are made possible through its three distinct but complementary programs.

1. Book Shipment:

   Each year, AHEAD sends up to 1000 current books and journals to the medical faculty of the Addis Ababa University. The storage, packing and shipment cost is all covered by AHEAD members, with the support of volunteers who travel to Addis.

   AHEAD has a slogan of "A Book at A Time and a Student a Year". This slogan reflects the principles of AHEAD that it is not quantity that matters but relevance of the assistance. We, therefore, consult regularly with AAU to ensure that we do not turn the university into a dumpling ground of irrelevant books but that each and every book sent by AHEAD is put into full use by each student and faculty of the medical faculty.




2. AHEAD Bursary Program

   Each year, AHEAD sponsors 18 medical students for a three year bursary program. AHEAD fellows are outstanding students who excel in their academic performance and are selected on the basis of their standing in a competition as well as in consideration of their need. They receive 360 Birr a year for three consecutive years upto the time of their internship.

   To date, AHEAD has 36 medical students, selected from the Jimma (12), Gondar (12) and Addis Ababa (12) medical faculties.




3. Equipment Project

In its consultations with medical students, AHEAD has learned that they experience lack of equipment necessary for their training and practice. In order to help alleviate the problem with equipment, Ahead is currently in the process of developing a project to collect and send basic equipment such as: Stethoscope with Bell and diaphragm, Otoscope, Ophthalmoscope and Laryngoscope which will be sent to students and graduates.

EthiopiaFirst - Why did you select to focus on assisting Higher Education?

Mr. Temesgen - AHEAD is a small, new organization with limited resources. Therefore, it was important to start small, remain focused and ensure sustainability. AHEAD's primary preoccupation is not starting but sustaining a project. The focus on higher education is, therefore, justified by AHEAD policy of working with one faculty at a time. In due course, we hope to broaden our activities to other levels of education.

EthiopiaFirst - Do you have Chapters in other cities?

Mr. Temesgen - AHEAD does not have chapters in other cities. However, AHEAD is keen in expanding its vision so that other Ethiopians in the Diaspora follow the example of AHEAD. For example, a group can adopt a faculty, department or school by sending books and equipment, finding professors and researchers who wish to do their sabbatical in Ethiopia, providing research grants and operating a scholarship scheme.

AHEAD is pleased to say that its idea is spreading. Earlier this year, a group of volunteers in Toronto have approached AHEAD with a proposal to work together. The group is now working as an independent association with the Science Faculty by sponsoring 10 science students and sending the necessary books.

EthiopiaFirst - Does your organization have any co-operation with other institutions?

Mr. Temesgen - AHEAD works in partnership with several institutions.

In Canada, AHEAD works with the Ethiopian community in Ottawa, the University of Ottawa, McGill University, Ottawa General Hospital, Montreal General Hospital, Christ Church Cathedral, health institutions and medical professionals.

In Ethiopia, AHEAD works with Getachew Bolodia Foundation (GBF), the medical faculty and library of the AAU, Ethiopian Airlines and Ethiopian volunteers who do the field work on behalf of AHEAD.

EthiopiaFirst - What is your plan for the future?

Mr. Temesgen - In the near future, we plan to do the following:

1. By working in partnership with our partners, the Getachew Bolodia Foundation (GBF), will we open a resource centre in Jimma. The City of Jimma has already made a building available to be rented as a resource centre. A funding proposal has been submitted to the Canadian Embassy to secure some financial resources to equip the resource centre with computers and other necessary equipment. GBF has requested funding from AHEAD towards salaries for two years and we will be considering ways how to raise funds for this project. This resource centre will be used by AHEAD and GBF fellows to not only have access to information about their filed but to run some community education and community services.



2. The AAU has also given us a property to be used as a Medical Resource Centre. This project will require extensive resources which can only be raised through partnership. The resource centre hopefully will have different programs, including a virtual library where medical students and faculty can have access to up-todate information and research studies, correspond with other health professionals and exchange experiences with fellow Ethiopians in the Diaspora.

EthiopiaFirst - Is there any way that Ethiopians in the diaspora can help AHEAD?

Mr. Temesgen - Ethiopians in the Diaspora can help in many different ways:

• They can form a small group of friends of AHEAD and sponsor a medical student or students. To sponsor one student for three years, you need only 1080 Birr. This will ensure that an outstanding and deserving student has a continuous support of modest funds to help meet some of the basic academic needs.

1. Individuals and groups can use their network and contacts to collect medical equipment for use by students during their training.



2. If there is enough interest, organizations similar to AHEAD can be formed and we will be happy to facilitate the necessary contact with partners in Ethiopia.

EthiopiaFirst - Is there any message you would like to convey to netters?

Mr. Temesgen - Our message is do Ethiopians in the Diaspora have any moral responsibility towards our people and how can we pay back our country for investing in our education?

Ethiopians have invested in our education, an investment that gave us the means to build a career and contribute our expertise to different societies. Many of us never had the opportunity to pay back our people since we had to immigrate for different reasons. Today, our country is one of the poorest and our people continue to bear the brunt of that poverty.

The message from AHEAD is that we all have moral responsibilities towards our people and we can pay back by reaching out and contributing in a small way. This is not about big and flashy payments that make the huge headlines. The AHEAD example shows that a modest, focused and meaningful gesture can make a difference.

It is encouraging to see the growing momentum among the Diaspora community to reach out to Ethiopia. Some of those encouraging initiatives include the People to People work against AIDS, the work of the Ethiopian health professionals in North America and the Ethiopian American Foundation assistance to higher academic institutions.

AHEAD is keen to raise awareness among the Diaspora that we all have moral a responsibility towards our people, that we owe our country something and it is time we paid back.

HOME