One of the communities I really feel I belong to is my professional association, the Ethiopian Media Women's Association (EMWA). My participation there has always been valid and recognized by my fellow members and secretariat. One of the contributions I've made is thanks to what I've learnt in the InterAction Leadership Programme. Indeed, I've benefited from the principles, concepts and tools I was introduced to in the programme.

One of the concepts was one of Appreciative Inquiry [AI] - I enabled my association to incorporate AI in the training it provided. I'm proud of the impact I've made, because it's big. A recent training event was attended by participants from more than 13 African countries.

The participants were from different backgrounds, experiences, and professions. They will now spend a year in other African countries, which host them and will enable them to share their experiences. The AI component was presented for one day by one of the Pan African Facilitators, Selome Taddesse.

My impact has also extended to sharing experiences with groups of youth which I met during the Twinning Exercise. These youths play a role in bringing excellence in Ethiopian educational institutions. Their organisation is called Sacred International Ministries. I've enabled them to develop a programme and to support them for the national event they are planning to host.

By Yakum Negash 

Even though he lives with his parents, he is wise and respected. This charming man happens to be my friend. He’s Gideon Timothewos.  

I met Gideon at the selection workshop, and I was impressed by him. I got the gift of time to get to know him better at the Pan African Event in Zambia, and I decided that there was much to explore in that young man’s world. When the idea of selecting a partner for the twinning exercise came to my mind, I immediately thought of this young law graduate. Shortly after Module One he was admitted to Addis Ababa University [AAU] as an assistant lecturer and we agreed that was the community I would be visiting.

When I got to his office and met his colleague Blen, I saw how open and committed Gideon was to his friends. Blen told me that she feels at ease when Gideon is around. He’s also a devout Christian and attends Sunday’s ceremony frequently. 

How he helps 

As per our agreement, we met at his office in AAU, and planned how to go about the exercise. With his friend Blen, we agreed that it would be better for him not to introduce me to his students in the lecture room so not to bias his community’s perception about him. After all, they may have thought "someone was there to spy on their instructor".

I joined the class five minutes early and every student there assumed I had been transferred from SAMARA University [Samara is where I come from]. Gideon arrived on time  and handed back assignments by calling each student by her name.   

Gideon helps his community (students) by giving assignments and letting them express their opinions. He is also a great enabler in the sense that he gives space, time, and above all, values differences. He especially assists the differently-abled, especially the visually impaired. I have also seen the passion in him for his community that he spares extra time to correct assignments, prepare lectures and look for appropriate law cases for his students.
Gideon's examples are simple and realistic; he doesn’t cite “ferenji” [foreign] examples and cases to construct his point.

Unlike my experience back in college years, where arguing with lecturers was considered taboo, I sensed a positive and friendly atmosphere in his lecture room. He literally enabled his community to interact freely. He also learned from them. He listens to them knowing they have a great deal to contribute: he really VALUES DIFFERENCES! He also gave them the space and time they needed and enabled to be great leaders. Finally, I have also noticed that Gideon takes the best out of his community by asking powerful questions and by checking whether he is in tune with his students. He revealed strong leadership qualities.

On what he could do differently: although he is gender sensitive and encourages women to actively engage in the lecture, his examples are all “masculine”.
I am truly grateful to have been part of Gideon’s community and witness to what that young man doing with the passions and principles we have been introduced to through the InterAction Programme. I saw my assumptions about the youth and their experience challenged in front of me!

Impact in my Community

As I returned back to my community in Samara, I was really absorbed in my thinking about what I could do there, the way young Gideon had done: I was inspired. I decided I should keep my eyes open wide and start noticing what was working there. It instantly paid off. I went straight to the newly established Samara University and spoke to its president. I found out that the university is struggling to stand on its two feet and is in dire need of lecturers.

I therefore contacted seven of my friends who come from diverse disciplines and backgrounds and we held a deep conversation about what could we do for our community. We agreed that we could contribute by taking at least one course each. That shining star Gideon had enabled me to notice well and act immediately! Inspired by him, I realized it was my time to inspire others. In the past, I used to think that "one needs to have experience". Now Gideon has enabled me to see that there are multiple realities.

Keep up the good work Geddy! You have really inspired me to look into my community and do something there.