• Supermodel Liya Kebede



• Dr. Negasso Gidada
Negasso Gidada (born 1943) was the president of Ethiopia from 1995 until 2001. He became president when his predecessor, Meles Zenawi became prime minister on August 22, 1995, and left office when his term expired on October 8, 2001. Currently, Dr. Negasso Gidada is an independent MP
• Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia:
  Institute of Development and Education for Africa (IDEA), Inc. -President
  Adjunct Professor, African Studies Dept., City University of New York
  RE.HAB E.N.A.T.F.FA, Chair



• Athlete Tirunesh Dibaba

Birth Date- June 1, 1986
Place of Birth- Bekoji, Arsi
Competition Distances- 3000m, 5000m, cross country
International Honors-
2005 World 5000m champion;
2005 World 10000m champion;
2005 World short and long course double world cross country champion;
2004 Olympic 5000m Bronze medallist;
2004 World cross country short course silver medallist;
2003 World 5000m champion;
2003 World junior cross country champion;
Records- 5000m World Indoor record, 5000m World Junior Indoor and outdoor Record holder
Manager- Mark Whetmore
Kit Sponsor- Mizuno

• G. E. Gorfu: Poet, Novelist, Philosopher

About Ethiopian philosopher G.E. Gorfu check http://www.geocities.com/gegorfu/

• Birhan Woldu


Now aged 23, Birhan is in her second year of Agricultural College and she hopes to later combine this with a degree in nursing to prepare her for work among poor farm families in the largely impoverished northern provinces of Ethiopia.

My educational assistance for Birhan and other members of her family is now being handled through the British-based organization A-CET (African Children's Educational Trust at www.a-cet.org).

Birhan has also become keenly interested in the work of the rapidly growing A-CET, which is now helping over 265 youngsters with scholarships and additional training, along with a further 200 taking courses to become computer operators. Many, like Birhan, are famine survivors, and all come from such disadvantaged backgrounds that education would be impossible without outside support. Several other reporters who have flown in to visit Birhan have also joined this inspiring sponsorship program.

In the past year Birhan has been flown to meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who said that the CBC image of her face "changed his life." She also attended Sir Bob Geldof's relaunch of Band Aid in London, where he said of her: "You are a beacon of hope and inspiration to millions."

After the taping of her appearance of the Oprah Winfrey Show in Chicago she received a standing ovation from the studio audience. Despite all the attention, however, she remains strikingly modest and only hopes her unasked-for celebrity may be useful as a message of hope to others.

She remains very close to her family and to her father, Ato, who has also been seen in CBC and BBC documentaries. The family lives near the provincial capital of Makele, Tigray province, where Ato still farms a small plot of land and continues a passion for making honey. Birhan still hopes to visit Canada in the future, but at the moment her education is her priority and she is pleased to be back with her friends in college.


• Tecola Hagos: Ethiopian professor and A self-taught artist

Professor Tecola Hagos work can be found in his web site www.tecolahagos.com

Supermodel Liya Kebede

Dr. Negaso Gidada

Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia

Tirunesh Dibaba

G.E. Gorfu

Birhan Woldu

Professor Tecola Hagos