REAL Spring Fundraiser features 4 outstanding women in honor of International Women's Day and three talented Ethiopian artists, including our own Mahider Birhanu.
International Women's Day in early March commemorates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women around the world. REAL will join in the celebration of women by celebrating the Power and Resilience of Ethiopian Girls and Women on Saturday, March 19, from 9:00 to 10:30 am (CST) in our virtual Spring Gala and Fundraiser.
The conversation will be moderated by Jackie Bouvier Copeland. Dr. Copeland is an award-winning innovator who bridges diverse disciplines and communities to heal people, society, and the planet. She is founder and chief executive officer of The Women Invested to Save Earth Fund (WISE), also the backbone organization for other global Black initiatives she has created, such as Black Philanthropy Month and Reunity. Her work has reached at least 20 million people, and she is recognized as a History Maker, included in The Congressional Record, for her significant civic contributions.
Dr. Ellen Kennedy, founder and Executive Director of World Without Genocide, which provides education about past and current conflicts and advocacy to promote peace and justice. She is an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota. Dr. Kennedy will address the impact of war, displacement, discrimination, rape, violence on Ethiopian women and girls and what could be done.
Esther Watts is Country Director for CARE Ethiopia. For 15 years she has worked with a cross section of stakeholders to achieve complex social change in Ethiopia. She has an MSC in Rural Development, Development Economics, and International Development from the University of Birmingham. Ms Watts will describe CARE’s work in empowering girls and women in Ethiopia.
Tsehai Wodajo, REAL founder & Executive Director, has over 30 years experience in human services. She leads from a strength-based and solution-focused approach. "Survive & Thrive" will be her focus as she expands on REAL's role in educating and empowering disadvantaged Ethiopian girls.
The event will also feature art from 3 Ethiopian artists that will be auctioned during the event including art by one of our own girls, Mahider Birhanu. Mahider was sponsored by REAL from 2006-2010, and is now an engineer and an accomplished artist. Mahider's painting below,
REAL Girl Into the Light
epitomizes the power of education in a young girl's life and is Mahider's celebration of her own considerable accomplishments as a result of her hard work and the support of her REAL sponsors.
Click here to register for the event.