ETHIOPIA
FREEDOM LEADER
GENAYE
Genaye was our first student from Ethiopia. She recruited the many others who would follow her and has done a good job at keeping the group gathered for action under the media missions organization she founded, Redeemedia. She is a wise and knowledgeable woman, photographer, and film maker. Professionally, she helps churches and non-profits deliver their core messages visually for greater impact in Ethiopia and with their donors at home.
Genaye is a rising theologian in Ethiopia, working on a graduate degree in theology and submitting academic papers and online articles about the historical development of the Christian faith in Ethiopia. She's a woman who is learning to use her own voice.
While there, we discovered that she is also amazingly well connected. While we were at the palace of the former king, a guard forbade us entry to the exhibit we had traveled to see. In less than 5 minutes she asked a government contact for help and we were inside. Genaye will be the team leader for Medialight's first African initiative (see the last section below for more, or just keep reading).
IMPACT
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
CONTEXT
• KEEPER OF ANCIENT JEWISH, CHRISTIAN, AND MUSLIM TRADITIONS
• DEEPLY DIVIDED NATION AMONG TRIBAL LINES
• 105 MILLION CITIZENS
• LESS THAN 15% OF IT’S POPULATION HAS ACCES TO THE INTERNET
• EMERGING FROM A BLOODY 50 YEAR EXPERIENCE WITH COMMUNISM
• HEADQUARTERS OF THE AFRICAN UNION (AFRICA’S VERSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS)
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CHALLENGES
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.