Excellency 

Senator Oliver

Reverend Canon Fairlie

Friends of AHEAD,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Thank you all for coming here today. 

 

First and foremost this event is a blessing to members of AHEAD and to its supporters. But most importantly, it is a blessing to thousands of knowledge-seeking and hard-working students of higher education in Ethiopia. For that, we thank you on behalf of AHEAD, its friends and millions of Ethiopians with whom we have partnered. May God bless us all as we mark this day in the history of AHEAD, and salute the contribution and commitment you make to improve the lives of millions of destitute people in Ethiopia.

 

·        We just created Ahead when I lost my younger sister SELAM HAILU recently a young bright woman in her twenties and in my tragedy I reflected upon her life and the lives of others in Ethiopia and elsewhere. And I decided to honour her by re-committing myself and at the same time help those who remain in Ethiopia, and who do not have the benefits and privileges of those of us who live in Canada and other affluent countries.  

 

·        A precious seed was then planted in my mind.  This precious seed soon found fertile soil thanks to my close colleagues Dr Yohannes Kebede, and Ainalem Tebeje who eagerly supported the notion of assisting higher Education in Ethiopia. That is why the name AHEAD, “Association for Higher Education and Development” was given to the SOIL on which we planted our precious seed.  In order to plant and cultivate the ideals and goals of AHEAD, we needed to create an official not for profit organization. This NOT for profit organization was submitted to the government of Ontario, with three board members, myself, Dr. Yohannes kebede and Ainalem Tebeje, as well as associate members, Joseph Hailu and Tezazu Tebeje.

 

Dear friends:

*  In keeping with its intention to help empower the people of Ethiopian, AHEAD developed the following modest objectives.

To send medical journals, books and equipment to the Faculty of Medicine at the Addis Ababa University, 

To run a Fellowship Program to medical students,

To mobilize Ethiopians outside the country to help facilitate their contribution towards capacity building in Ethiopia

To establish partnerships between AHEAD and other international and non‑government organizations (NGOs) to lay the foundation for a sustainable program for AHEAD

 

Let me now give you a brief report of what we have accomplished: 

 

·        I am particularly proud to say that our greatest accomplishment has been the recognition we have received from our partners in Ethiopia.  Ahead has been accepted as a credible and reliable organization of Ethiopians in the Diaspora.  We have established partnership with the Addis Ababa University, Ethiopian Airlines and the Getachew Bolodia Foundation.  Those three institutions are key to our work now and in the future. 

·        We have reached out to thousands of Ethiopians throughout the world.  Our web site has become a vehicle for Ethiopians to send us their support that Ahead is an organization whose time has come.  The support, encouragement and wishes we have received have convinced us that there is indeed a need for an organization like Ahead.

 

·        In a more concrete way, we have collected over 3000 educational materials, and shipped over 1000 medical journals and books to the Faculty of Medicine, of Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia.

 

·        Captain Haile will be speaking about the Ahead Fellowship Program so I will spare you the details.

 

·        Our plan for this year is to start sending laboratory equipment to the Medical Faculty and students.

·        Sending books, journals and laboratory equipment, exchange of professionals, and awarding scholarships are only the beginning. AHEAD have long-term plans.  .

 

·        AHEAD has been fortunate to receive support from several individuals, universities, companies, associations, and medical doctors, including friends like Dr.Fatima Dhalla, Dr. Gihad H. Shabib, Dr. F. Irani, Dr. Wm. Phillip Mickelson, Montreal General Hospital, University of Ottawa, Smyth Pediatric Group.

 

·        While the support of each one of you is valuable to Ahead, I would like to make a special reference to the support of Ethiopian-Canadians. This community is the driving force of Ahead.  The community here is key to Ahead and we will work hard to earn your recognition and support.  We are confident that while Ahead is a modest beginning, with you support, it has the potential to grow into an organization with a valuable mission.

 

·        As a result of the tremendous outpouring of support from around the world, AHEAD is becoming more widely known. We thank you and God for that. For the unprecedented success of AHEAD, we are grateful to all of you who are here and those who are unable to attend today’s fund-raising, and to the dedicated members of AHEAD.

 

 

·        Although AHEAD was started by Ethiopian-Canadians, the real change makers are Ethiopians themselves. By providing students the benefits of modern education and scientific developments, we believe we can contribute to the efforts of Ethiopians to bring real and long lasting difference. 

Dear friends:

·        The ideals and motto for which we stand become a testimony to history, a proud reminder for our children and the world. Our actions today and tomorrow will become a uniting ground for children of God. 

·        Thank you for joining us today in this important event.  Ahead has a great potential to grow and please keep in touch, you will be hearing more about us, as we grow to do more and better.