Meet This Year's Scholarship Recipients

Zeritu Melak, CPU College Web Development & Coding

Zeritu's road to college wasn't linear. Separated from her family as a child and raised at Kechene Orphanage, she left school in sixth grade to support herself, first as a housemaid, then as a waitress. However, she soon realized that education was her only true road to a different life.

With a renewed commitment, Zeritu returned to the classroom. Today, she is excelling in Web Development at CPU College. Her vision blends the precision of data with the creativity of technology; she is particularly passionate about mastering Excel and HTML to build digital solutions.

"I hope to be the example I never had growing up. I think returning to school showed the next generation of girls at Kechene the value of education, now that I am in college."

Her goal is to gain corporate experience before launching her own web development firm, creating financial independence while giving back to Ethiopia. Zeritu isn't just building websites; she’s building a legacy of hope for the girls following in her footsteps at Kechene.

---

NIGIST ASANAW, Alpha University

Human Resource Management

Nigist Azanaw, a first-year Human Resource Management student at Alpha University, has a quiet determination that has propelled her into university. Growing up in the Kechene Orphanage, Nigist watched older students pursue their educations, and she developed a strong sense of resilience.

Inspired by the girls who attended university before her, Nigist has embraced her university studies with rigor and discipline. Beyond the classroom, Nigist is already a pillar of her community. She spends her free time tutoring younger girls at the orphanage, teaching them that with self-belief, no goal is out of reach. She eventually dreams of becoming a business owner, creating stability for herself and jobs for others.

"My goal is simple: if I believe in myself and work work, nothing is out of my reach. I won’t just say it, I will live it"

We are proud to support Nigist through the Cabrera Memorial Scholarship as she builds a foundation for herself, and for those who will follow her.