Innovation Summit - Meridian International Center
Innovation Summit - Meridian International Center
Innovation Summit - Meridian International Center
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Participant Biographies<br />
Mr. Josemir Alcides Efraime Taimo – Mozambique<br />
Business Development Director, eRevolution Partners<br />
Mr. Taimo serves as the Business Development Director of eRevolution Partners. The company is a<br />
youth development, finance and business consulting firm that was launched under a broad-based<br />
empowerment initiative to spearhead SME development and foster youth entrepreneurship and selfemployment<br />
in Mozambique. eRevolution Partners, which has a staff of three, relies on government<br />
cooperation since it is not profit driven. Mr. Taimo is responsible for business development; including<br />
identifying sources of revenue and funding; growing the mentor, corporate sponsorship, and training<br />
and development support networks; and overseeing government relations. Mr. Taimo is committed<br />
to developing a business model that will help strengthen and provide opportunities for Mozambican<br />
youth.<br />
Ms. Fitsame Teferra Woldemichael – Ethiopia<br />
Founder, Habte Books and author/publisher of children’s books<br />
Ms. Woldemichael is founder of Habte Books, a multi-lingual children’s book publisher based in<br />
Addis Ababa that publishes books for Ethiopian children around the world. The books teach about<br />
Ethiopian culture and history in various languages (Amharic, English, Afaan Oromoo, French, German<br />
and others). Currently, Habte Books has a team of two writers, three illustrators, two designers, two<br />
editors and one distributor. Ms. Woldemichael had been buying children’s books and reading them<br />
to children in orphanages every week, when she realized that children would be more motivated<br />
to read if they could find books to which they could relate. To address this need, she began to<br />
write her own books in different local and international languages, using local examples that the<br />
children could easily understand. Through the over 30 books that she has authored and the book<br />
publishing company she founded, her work has already had a huge impact on Ethiopian children.<br />
Ms. Woldemichael has established connections with the Ethiopian Ministry of Education for future<br />
collaboration.<br />
Mr. Hallelujah Lulie Wondimu – Ethiopia<br />
Junior Researcher, Institute for Security Studies<br />
Mr. Wondimu works as a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), a pan-African applied<br />
policy research and training organization headquartered in South Africa with offices in Kenya,<br />
Ethiopia and Senegal. The Institute advances human security in Africa through evidence-based<br />
policy advice, technical support and capacity building. The ISS conducts research and compiles<br />
reports for the African Union and the African community in general. Mr. Wondimu is passionate about<br />
popular participation in politics, public dialogue and debate, and democracy and governance. As<br />
the Ethiopian chapter coordinator for the African Unbound movement, Mr. Wondimu plans to use<br />
a weekly radio show to disseminate ideas and to facilitate dialogue and debate. He also plans to<br />
establish a formal platform which would function as a knowledge sharing hub where Ethiopian youth<br />
could gather to exchange ideas and inspire, challenge and encourage each other. Mr. Wondimu is<br />
leader of various volunteerism institutions such as Rotract, Subsidiary of Rotary <strong>International</strong>, where<br />
he presided for the year 2010-11.<br />
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