“Service Above Self: A Lifelong Commitment to Empowering Marginalized Communities”

The notion of putting service before self was deeply
ingrained in my upbringing in rural northern Ethiopia. Memories of facing
constant uncertainty due to erratic weather conditions, widespread poverty, and
limited access to basic social services have had a lasting impact on me for
many years. These experiences have fueled my drive to work in the development
and relief sector to improve the lives of ordinary people in my community and
beyond. In a society where self-interest often prevails, the ideology of “service
above self” serves as a shining light of hope and kindness. Over the
course of more than 15 years, my professional journey in the development sector
has exemplified this philosophy as I have dedicated myself to empowering
marginalized populations in Ethiopia and other parts of Africa.
Having started my career with a deep-rooted sense of duty,
my commitment to service transcended mere career aspirations; it became a
profound calling. Beginning as a project officer in a modest local NGO and
progressing to leadership roles at the regional level, every position I have
held has been driven by a sense of responsibility to those in need. This core
belief has guided my decisions and actions, shaping a career path of empathy
and purpose.
This has been evident in my professional engagements with
various development projects and organizations to date. Currently, I am the
Regional Advocacy Lead for Right2Grow, a multi-country consortium program
working to improve nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services
in Ethiopia and other areas in Africa and Asia. In this role, I lead regional
advocacy efforts in Africa and Asia to improve WASH and nutrition services for
marginalized groups, especially women and children, who face significant
disparities in nutrition and WASH services. My leadership reflects Rotary’s
core principles of prioritizing the needs of others, promoting inclusiveness
and community-driven action, advocating for marginalized communities, and
striving for sustainable impact. These initiatives remind me that true service
transcends personal recognition and instead focuses on daily actions that
positively impact others. By fostering empathy, collaboration, and shared
responsibility, my work with Right2Grow not only addresses immediate challenges
such as access to clean water and nutritious food, but also lays the foundation
for lasting social change and collective well-being.
In addition to my professional commitments, initiatives I
have led in my personal circles are other examples where I am proud to say that
I have embodied the concept of service above self both professionally and
personally. Most recently, I led an initiative to raise funds and supplies for
internally displaced people (IDP) during the recent war between the federal
government of Ethiopia and regional forces. In this initiative, I spearheaded
the mobilization of half a million Ethiopian Birr (US$10,000) and two trucks
full of goods and household items that were distributed to nearly 30,000 IDPs
from the Wollo province of the Amhara region, where I was born. My role was to
lead the entire initiative and collect donations from friends, family, and
colleagues in my personal circle.
Going forward, I remain steadfast in my commitment to the
cause of the underserved and marginalized, for therein lies the essence of
service above self.