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Dawit Bekele Mekonnen, Ethiopia

“I am Ethiopian by birth, human by composition, male by configuration, caring and strong by parentage, warrior by heritage, rich in culture, and African by way of a jackpot in heaven.” These are the words of Dawit Bekele Mekonnen, a young leader from Addis Ababa whose passion for Africa has compelled him to act to address many problems facing his community.

After witnessing the unjust treatment of a poor man on a public taxi in Addis Ababa, Dawit first wrote a letter of complaint to a local newspaper and later wrote a proposal to the government for the restructuring of the public transportation system in Ethiopia’s capital city. “One must understand, analyze and implement” solutions to Africa’s problems, Dawit says. “Not in total disregard of the past but in greater acknowledgement of today and its consequences for tomorrow.”

Dawit is now turning his attention from public transportation to global warming and hopes to unite Africa and reform public policy to spearhead a “Green Revolution”. He dreams of a united Africa where “we will learn to use our resources for the wellbeing of all our citizens and not just a few.” Of his own future, Dawit says, “It matters to me that our doctors, engineers, and teachers are leaving…while I and millions of others still call Africa home.” He intends to use his skills to build the continent from within and make it attractive for those who have left to return.