Abebe Gellaw, journalist and visiting scholar at Stanford University, was one of two Ethiopians named Young Global Leaders weeks ago by Geneva-based World Economic Forum.
The World Economic Forum selected 197 Young Global Leaders this year from a pool of nearly 5,000 under-40-year-old nominees from around the world for their “professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world,” the forum announced. The other honored Ethiopian is supermodel Liya Kebede.
In his interview with VOA Amharic’s Cultural Mosaic, Abebe said that he wants to continue to work as advocate for the poor and a group he calls "voiceless" in Ethiopia and elsewhere. He also says that he will continue on his dedication to address issues of human right, economic inequality and justice. He says he is humbled by the recognition but encouraged to do his very best to contribute to the betterment of society.
Other Young Global Leaders include tennis star Roger Federer; Twitter sounder and CEO Evan Williams; YouTube co-founder Steven Chen; the President’s speech writer, Jon Favorue; singer Wyclef Jean who founded Yele Haiti Foundation; Nelson Mandela’s grandson who is a member of the South African Parliament, Mandla Mandela; and Saudi Arabian Prince Khalid Bin Bandar Bin Sultan.
Alula Kebede interviewed Abebe Gellaw for the Voice of America’s Amharic service. (Click on the links to the side to listen to the report).
