Ethiopia is best known for the uniquely successful military resistance during the late 19th-century scramble for Africa- the only African country that was not colonized. Subsequently, many African nations adopted the colors of Ethiopia’s flag following their independence.
If you have visited Ethiopia, you will agree with me that it is truly a land of brilliant and beautiful people and cultures. This week we interact with an Ethiopian beauty Misrak Tekle, who is fearlessly influencing her community.
I am the last born of five siblings. I was born in Addis Ababa in 1987. I was one of those kids who was expected to love school and top my class because my father was a teacher and my mother worked in a factory. This was not the case. I hated school. Preschool was a disaster and I felt I would have been better staying at home being a curious girl who loved exploring the soil, flowers or playing hide and seek.
Then came primary school, an equal disaster where I performed very poorly. I would be between position 45 and 50 out of all the 50 pupils. I would wonder who created school at my age. However, I am grateful to my late father who died when I was eleven because he encouraged me all the way.
He would get very angry in the morning when taking me to school. It seemed like he needed to call for a bulldozer or a harsh police escort. If I wasn’t hiding under the bed, I would be caught running away to hide behind a banana plantation. My dad’s words to me still ring in my mind todate.
“Misrak, you are a smart girl. You will change and transform many lives in Ethiopia. You are a woman and women MUST and need to be educated. It would not be nice to grow up, get married and ask for everything from your husband.”
His passing was a very sad event for my family. My mother had to raise her five children and one adopted one while all she earned was 300birr (30USD) per month. She was the sole bread winner with one source of income. When I think about it today, I praise God for his provision because I still cannot comprehend how we were brought up. My mother is my hero.
Grade eight came and this is where we take regional exams to join secondary school. This was a big challenge for me. My father’s words echoing in my mind and at the same time being scared that I might fail and disappoint my family.
I felt like a failure because my results were of a low standard. I however made it to a little over the passing mark and was able to secure a place in a not so bad secondary school. In high school, my paradigms shifted. I knew that this was a chance for me at life. I therefore decided to work hard. I became the best in school.
I passed my final exams and secured a place at Haramya University to study law for four years. I graduated and joined Ethiopian Catholic Church Social development co ordination office of Harar as a Justice and peace unit assistant coordinator for three years. The exposure and experience opened my eyes to the needs of my community.
I joined Addis Ababa University, Centre for Human Rights to pursue my post graduate and graduated in 2014. This was bitter sweet because I had to quit at my work place and was not sure how I would manage the fees and my basic things.
When I joined the university, I got a part time job that offered good remuneration. Doesn’t that go to show you how sovereign God is? When you are busy worrying about your life, he has already gone ahead of you and done it for you.
I have played the role of implanting and restoring peace in the Eastern parts of Ethiopia and beyond. This is by establishing peace clubs in schools, organizing and initiating reconciliation between conflicting parties, and inter religious dialogue forum that directly impact peace in my community.
I am currently involved in different voluntary programs that create awareness on basic civil education for students and the community in Addis Ababa. I volunteer in empowering the youth through IMCS as an alumni. I am also currently working in the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission as a research expert on human rights issues.
As a young woman in her twenties, I am respected when I participate in many community projects and at my work place because of my resilience, hard work and love for my community.
People need to understand that we all need each other. I am a very social person. I have a lot of friends and I encourage them to participate in voluntary activities. I also equip myself by enrolling in to programs that build me with the recent being YALI. My leadership skills are constantly being nurtured with my networks expanding.
Young African leaders need to get out of their comfort zones. Let us unite for peace and development. Tell our stories because we are part of Africa rising. All eyes are on our continent right now. We must intend to use and make decisions wisely for the sake of our continent. When I look at mother Africa, I see diversities, a beautiful and a sunny continent full of opportunities.
In the next 10 years, I want to be a university lecturer tackling Human rights and Environmental issues and acquire a doctorate degree on Environmental policy. I look forward to collaborating with the Green belt movement so as to start one in Ethiopia with an aim of restoring the forest coverage. I wish to contribute to the climate change initiative.
My other dream which I pray for daily is to work towards having a centre for the disadvantaged groups in my community.
When Misrak is not busy engaging her community, she loves making a traditional food called Kitfo which consists of minced raw beef, is marinated in mitmita (a chilli powder-based spice blend) and niter Kibbeh (a clarified butter infused with herbs and spices). The word comes from the Ethio Semitic root k-t-f, meaning to chop finely or mince.
I ate it when I last visited Ethiopia and I must say she just made me crave for it. We celebrate you Misrak, you are a true young African leader.
