I was privileged to serve the world’s children and women as a Unicef staff member.
I was posted in three continents and worked in all regions of the world where Unicef served to improve children’s life opportunities and the empowerment of girls and women. My unicef career helped me realize my commitment to make a difference in the lives of other people and communities I had the opportunity to serve.
On retirement from the UN in 2005, I wanted to continue this mission of service. I was and still am involved in supporting nonprofit organizations, community associations and charities in Ethiopia. The most important among my post retirement activities is being a member of Rotary whose motto is ‘service above self’
When I lost my son Dr. Benyam, in 2013, I started exploring the different avenues in which I can keep his memory alive and give back to the community in a way which reflected his passion for science and eagerness for helping others. I also wanted to reflect my lifelong commitment to empowering women and girls into the equation. I therefore chose to partner with my Alma-matter, Addis Ababa University (Haile Selassie I University, when I studied) but with the College of Natural and Computational Sciences, (CNCS) to reflect Ben’s commitment.
Setting up an organization took a long time because of the bureaucracy but I was able to officially register YeBen Endowment Fund in August 2015. YeBen Fund activities started in the 2015/16 academic year in partnership with CNCS. Other important partners are Rotaractors, (young Rotarians between the ages of 18-30) who dedicate their time, knowledge and skills in giving life skills training to the students.
YeBen Endowment Fund
YeBen’s mission is to enhance the life opportunities of students at CNCS by providing them with avenues in which they can realize their potential.
YeBen has three objectives.
* To provide financial support to selected students with disadvantaged financial background and with good academic standing.
* To provide life skills training to students of the college
* To provide different avenues through which students can learn and develop
Achievements
The 2023/24 academic year is the ninth year of YeBen’s program with CNCS.
Financial support
Government universities like the Addis Ababa University offer free tuition and full board accommodation for successful students admitted into the university. But students who come from poor economic backgrounds do not have the means to meet their other personal needs. Here is where the financial support by YeBen becomes the difference between continuing their education or dropping out.
YeBen provides financial support for 20 students of CNCS each year until their graduation. YeBen aims to have 2/3 of the awardees are female.
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Life skills Training
We, at YeBen believe that young people in universities need more than academic education for their personal development for success in and beyond university. The second pillar of YeBen activities is, therefore, the provision of eight days’ life skills training over four weekends. The training is mandatory for YeBen supported students but open to other students too.
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YeBen partners with three Rotaract Clubs, namely, Lewet, Atronos and Fanos to provide this program. The voluntary work of Rotaractors who give their time, knowledge, and skills to train the university students over the years is central to the success of this program. The members from the three Rotaract clubs develop the training materials and conduct the training.
Other activities
3.1 Awards for excellence
In the early years, YeBen provided awards for graduating students with outstanding socially relevant projects with potential for implementation. A few interesting projects were awarded. The awards were later dropped because the graduates chose to pursue employment opportunities rather than moving forward with their project ideas.
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YeBen invites speakers from time to time to inspire students. Many of the speakers are Rotarians
3.3 Presentation on employment, self employment opportunities are offered for graduating students.
3.4 Establishment of campus based Rotaract club.
This is work in progress. Having the opportunity to take part in Rotaract clubs helps students in personal development, increase their chances for success and give platform for networking and lasting friendships.
Partnerships
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CNCS
YeBen enjoys the support and appreciation of the senior officials of the College. The Gender Office of the College coordinates the CNCS - YeBen relationships. The dynamic coordinator of the office is an important actor in the effectiveness of YeBen activities.
CNCS officials and YeBen Fund hold three official meetings in an academic year - the introduction of new YeBen support awardees at the beginning of each academic year; the awarding of certificates for students successfully completing Life Skills Training; the graduation of of YeBen students at the end of the year. Other consultations are held as needed.
Rotaractors
The partnership between YeBen and Rotaract clubs of Lewet, Atronos and Fanos has gone from strength to strength.
Based on the experience gained from the life skills training sessions, the training materials now focus on three areas.
* Self development - awareness, motivation, relationships, vision, and goal setting
* Soft skills - focusing on time management, financial literacy, and communication
* Health - focusing on reproductive health, mental health, and substance abuse
Having Rotaractor’s provide the training has many added benefits. Students can relate better to the experiences of trainers who are close to their own age. Further, Rotaractors serve as role models for the students. Students, graduates, and faculty who have joined Rotaract clubs serve as inspiration.
Individual Donors and Sponsors
My friends and family have rallied to encourage me and provide financial support to YeBen students since YeBen was set up. Their support has been a big boost.
The YeBen Board of Directors have been generous with their funding in addition to serving on the board as volunteers. The other important group of donors are members of my Rotary Club, Addis Ababa West.
Resources
Sustainability has always been foremost in my mind when I decided to set up an organization. I did not consider establishing an NGO and depending on proposal writing to seek donor funds as sustainable. The other choice of creating my own Fund looked like a better alternative.
I therefore invested my resources in buying shares in banks and planned to use the annual share dividend as sustainable income. But it turned out that the dividends were not sufficient to cover the cost of running YeBen activities, meaning I must make subsidies. The support of donors was also helpful to bridge the gap.
YeBen building then came into the picture. I was engaged in building a G +5 building which was completed late in 2023. The rental income from the building now provides sustainable income for YeBen Fund activities with possibilities for expansion.
YeBen Fund now has an office in the building and uses the building facilities for organizing events.
Management
Board of Directors
The critical role that YeBen Fund Board members play is instrumental to the success of our activities. All members serve as volunteers and in addition sponsor students. Half of the Board members are Rotarians putting into practice the motto of ‘service above self’
The Board members meet 3 to 4 times a year to guide the Fund activities and actively take part in key events such as introduction of new students, certificate programs for trainees and graduation ceremonies.
Management Team
YeBen has a four-member management team. I serve as volunteer Executive Director. The other three members are part time staff.
The Program Coordinator handles all program activities including organizing the selection of students for financial support, training programs, board meetings and preparation of reports.
The Accountant ensures proper management of all financial transactions and preparation of financial reports for external audit.
The Public Relations director handles all social media activities, website, and documentation.
Innovation - the PR director is a Rotaractor who has mobilized a team of 10 Rotaractors and YeBen supported students to form a dynamic YeBen PR team. The public image of YeBen is developed by a dedicated, voluntary team of young people. This provides experience for team members and increases their opportunity for employment and self employment.
Work in Progress – Challenges
Giving forward
One of the aims of YeBen Fund is to create a dedicated group of YeBen alumni who give forward and serve as role models. This is still work in progress, an area where greater emphasis will be given in the coming years. There are graduates who are ready to serve as role models in this regard..jpg)
Establishment of Rotaract clubs.
Joining Rotaract clubs opens vast opportunities for young people. Plans are in place to have interested CNCS students as interns in partner Rotaract clubs in preparation for their setting up their own campus-based clubs.
Future Plans
This is work in progress. Having the opportunity to take part in Rotaract clubs helps students in personal development, increase their chances for success and give platform for networking and lasting friendships.
Partnerships
.png)
YeBen enjoys the support and appreciation of the senior officials of the College. The Gender Office of the College coordinates the CNCS - YeBen relationships. The dynamic coordinator of the office is an important actor in the effectiveness of YeBen activities.
CNCS officials and YeBen Fund hold three official meetings in an academic year - the introduction of new YeBen support awardees at the beginning of each academic year; the awarding of certificates for students successfully completing Life Skills Training; the graduation of of YeBen students at the end of the year. Other consultations are held as needed.
Rotaractors
The partnership between YeBen and Rotaract clubs of Lewet, Atronos and Fanos has gone from strength to strength.
Based on the experience gained from the life skills training sessions, the training materials now focus on three areas.
* Self development - awareness, motivation, relationships, vision, and goal setting
* Soft skills - focusing on time management, financial literacy, and communication
* Health - focusing on reproductive health, mental health, and substance abuse
Having Rotaractor’s provide the training has many added benefits. Students can relate better to the experiences of trainers who are close to their own age. Further, Rotaractors serve as role models for the students. Students, graduates, and faculty who have joined Rotaract clubs serve as inspiration.
Individual Donors and Sponsors
My friends and family have rallied to encourage me and provide financial support to YeBen students since YeBen was set up. Their support has been a big boost.
The YeBen Board of Directors have been generous with their funding in addition to serving on the board as volunteers. The other important group of donors are members of my Rotary Club, Addis Ababa West.
Resources
Sustainability has always been foremost in my mind when I decided to set up an organization. I did not consider establishing an NGO and depending on proposal writing to seek donor funds as sustainable. The other choice of creating my own Fund looked like a better alternative.
I therefore invested my resources in buying shares in banks and planned to use the annual share dividend as sustainable income. But it turned out that the dividends were not sufficient to cover the cost of running YeBen activities, meaning I must make subsidies. The support of donors was also helpful to bridge the gap.
YeBen building then came into the picture. I was engaged in building a G +5 building which was completed late in 2023. The rental income from the building now provides sustainable income for YeBen Fund activities with possibilities for expansion.
YeBen Fund now has an office in the building and uses the building facilities for organizing events.
Management
Board of Directors
The critical role that YeBen Fund Board members play is instrumental to the success of our activities. All members serve as volunteers and in addition sponsor students. Half of the Board members are Rotarians putting into practice the motto of ‘service above self’
The Board members meet 3 to 4 times a year to guide the Fund activities and actively take part in key events such as introduction of new students, certificate programs for trainees and graduation ceremonies.
Management Team
YeBen has a four-member management team. I serve as volunteer Executive Director. The other three members are part time staff.
The Program Coordinator handles all program activities including organizing the selection of students for financial support, training programs, board meetings and preparation of reports.
The Accountant ensures proper management of all financial transactions and preparation of financial reports for external audit.
The Public Relations director handles all social media activities, website, and documentation.
Innovation - the PR director is a Rotaractor who has mobilized a team of 10 Rotaractors and YeBen supported students to form a dynamic YeBen PR team. The public image of YeBen is developed by a dedicated, voluntary team of young people. This provides experience for team members and increases their opportunity for employment and self employment.
Work in Progress – Challenges
Giving forward
One of the aims of YeBen Fund is to create a dedicated group of YeBen alumni who give forward and serve as role models. This is still work in progress, an area where greater emphasis will be given in the coming years. There are graduates who are ready to serve as role models in this regard.
.
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Joining Rotaract clubs opens vast opportunities for young people. Plans are in place to have interested CNCS students as interns in partner Rotaract clubs in preparation for their setting up their own campus-based clubs.
Future Plans
Expand outreach
In consultation with partners, YeBen will add other activities. This will include activities which will help student gain experience for employment or self employment on graduation.
Share YeBen Fund experience with other organizations and other colleges of the Addis Ababa university and other universities and serve as role model.
Misrak Elias
July 2024
In consultation with partners, YeBen will add other activities. This will include activities which will help student gain experience for employment or self employment on graduation.
Share YeBen Fund experience with other organizations and other colleges of the Addis Ababa university and other universities and serve as role model.
Misrak Elias
July 2024
Congratulations Misrak and thank you for sharing the inspiring story of YeBen Foundation.
ReplyDeleteHow inspiring, Misrak! What a wonderful way to honour your son and to impact so positively the lives of hundreds of individuals.
ReplyDeleteDear Misrak, this is such an inspiring initiative. Truly! Thanks for sharing. Marjan
ReplyDeleteDear Misrak! What a wonderfull surprise to see your beautiful photo and to read your inspiring success story about helping young women and men to grow intellectually and professionally. The Life Skill training is indeed so important for young poeple. By the way, the YeBen Lifeskill Program brought fond memories back . Do you recall our working together within the Intersectorial Cluster, where we developped in the Communication Section the Lifeskills training modul?
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear in this newsletter from you, dear Misrak, and I wish you and your endeavour further success and development, cordially Ute Deseniss-Gros