Gabby Mariam
President

Gabby Mariam, a high school senior at Churchill, is the current president of Wegene Youth Club. She garnered experience from her past years as a board member and secretary of the Wegene Yough Club, working closely with the past president and vice president, allowing her to lead a successful year. She admires Wegene’s mission of aiding the less fortunate in their homeland with education and housing. Outside of Wegene, Gabby runs her school, African Student Alliance, and UNICEF club, which similarly aids less fortunate kids worldwide with education.

Zayma Negussie
Vice President

Zayma Negussie, a rising senior at Jackson-Reed High School in Washington, DC, has held various leadership positions, including Community Engagement Chair, Director of Fundraising, Treasurer, and Vice President of WYC. His visit to the Wegene Knowledge Center in Ethiopia inspired his dedication to giving back. Additionally, Zayma co-founded Dinoscholars Mentoring Services, a nonprofit promoting children’s literacy, and co-authored “Dino Boys’ Tales.” He is known for being trustworthy and reliable and is eager to find new ways to enhance WYC.

Abigail Tsegaye
Secretary

Abigail Tsegaye, a high school senior set to graduate in 2025 from Lake Braddock, is an active and passionate community member driven by a deep connection to her cultural heritage. As the former Director of Fundraising and board member of WYC, she secured funds to support the organization’s goals. She is ready for her secretary position. Having grown up in a vibrant Ethiopian community, she holds her heritage dear and cherishes the opportunities she has been afforded. Joining the Wegene team has given her an opportunity to give back to her country in a meaningful way.

Kaleb Getachew
Treasurer

Kaleb is a rising senior at Independence High School. He is interested in computer science and finance. He served as Assistant Director of Fundraising in 2023 and is ready for his current role as a Treasurer. Kaleb has also tutored and mentored middle school and high school students at the EEAE Foundation for over two years. He also provides entry-level programming classes for middle school students in the Alexandria City area. The classes will be held for one month in July in the summer of 2024. Kaleb is very friendly and an attentive lister with excellent communication and organizational skills.

Bittania Samuel
Director of Fundraising

Bittania is a Lake Braddock Secondary School senior and is highly committed to her position as the Director of Fundraising. Outside her WYC role, Bittania enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing basketball/tennis, and listening to music. At Lake Braddock, Bittania also holds the Co-President position for her school’s Ethiopian and Eritrean Student Association, which shows her connection to her culture. Bittania is eager to prioritize WYC’s fundraising and organization overall.

Obsie Teshome
Assistant Director of Fundraising

Obsie Teshome, a Lake Braddock Secondary School senior, serves as Wegene’s Assistant Director of Fundraising. In this position, she is responsible for building relationships with donors, tracking and reporting fundraising performance, and collaborating with other leadership teams. At Lake Braddock, she is the Founder of the International Women’s Club, community service director of the National Honor Society, and secretary of the Ethiopian and Eritrean Club. Additionally, she is a tutor in reading and math.

Hannah Floyd
Assistant Director of Fundraising

Hannah Floyd, a member of the class of 2025 at Riverside High School in Leesburg, Virginia, serves as the Assistant Director of Fundraising at Wegene Youth Club. She generates ideas, manages events, prepares reports, and builds relationships with donors. Additionally, Hannah is a cross-country and track athlete actively involved in extracurricular activities. Some of the things she does include serving as an ambassador at her local running store and initiating a mental health campaign with her classmates.

Lucas Aemro Selassie
Director of Education

Lucas Aemro Selassie is a junior at Washington International School who has served as the Director of Education at Wegene Youth Club for two years. He’s an engaged student involved in multiple school clubs and has worked in student government for four years. Lucas co-founded Dino Scholars Mentoring Services and co-authored the children’s short story book Dino Boys’ Tales.

Samaria Kasahun
Assistant Director of Education

Samaria Kasahun is a junior at West Springfield High School. As the Assistant Director of Education, she supports the Director of Education in achieving WYC’s educational goals. Her focus is elevating the club and aiding Ethiopian children in need, driven by her love for Ethiopian culture and a desire to connect with new people on this journey.

Kirub Kudama
Assistant Director of Education

Kirub Kudama is an upcoming St. John’s College High School senior and Assistant Director of Education. He enjoys meeting new people and collaborating with them to help the community. He brings a positive attitude to everything he does and adapts to new environments quickly. He is confident and kind. He will use the leadership skills he gained from his Cadet Corps Leadership Program at his high school and WYC to help others succeed and reach their goals.

Hylay Assefa
Assistant Director of Education

Hylay Assefa is a Rock Ridge High School senior. He has traveled to Ethiopia, visiting the Wegene Knowledge Center, where he provided valuable assistance to children, particularly in improving their English skills. As the Assistant Director of Education, he is committed to helping Wegene Ethiopian Foundation’s Knowledge Center in Ethiopia. He wishes for a bright future for Ethiopia and believes Wegene is the route to get there. Hylay’s dedication knows no bounds and remains unwavering until the objectives are met.

Lena Birye
Director of Community Outreach

Lena Birye is a rising senior at Lake Braddock and serves as Director of Community Outreach. Passionate about community service, she is committed to engaging the community with WYC, developing strong connections, and supporting kids and families in Ethiopia. In her free time, Lena enjoys playing sports, spending time with friends and family, drawing, and playing the piano. She is also a leader in school clubs related to business, STEM, and cultural heritage.

Annabelle Abraham
Assistant Director of Community Outreach

Annabelle Abraham, a Bishop O’Connell High School junior. She is the Assistant Director of Community Outreach for Wegene Youth Club. In her free time, she immerses herself in soccer throughout the year. She participates in club soccer during the spring and probably represents her school in the fall. She is excited about joining the organ use club and eager to contribute to its mission and take on her leadership role at Wegene Youth Club.

Alainta Taddesse
Assistant Director of Community Outreach

Alainta Taddesse is a junior at Wakefield High School and the Assistant Director of Community Outreach for WYC. She is involved in many activities at Wakefield, such as Student Government, Black Student Union, and United Minority Girls. She also loves to dance and has been dancing competitively since she was ten. She loves listening to music and spending time with her friends and family. She is excited to join Wegene and looks forward to organizing activities like Brunch with Santa and the Wegene winter formal.

Adonna Solomon
Director of Communications

Adonna Solomon is a junior at Westfield High School. She is the Director of Communications for WYC. She is an active member of her school’s EESA, where she has been elected vice president and an active member of the Black Student Union. She is family-oriented and enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends. Adonna is a highly fair and open-minded individual who finds joy in identifying with her Ethiopian roots and giving back to her community in Ethiopia.

Naomi Kassaye
Assistant Director of Communication

Naomi Kassaye, a junior at the Potomac School. She is the Assistant Director of Communication at WYC. She takes pride in her community by finding ways to help alongside her cousins. She has been actively engaged in her school’s “Sisters Collaborative” club since her freshman year. Outside her academic pursuits, she enjoys playing soccer with her team, friends, and family. She also enjoys meeting new people and spending time with her loved ones. She is enthusiastic about Wegene Youth Club and wants to contribute to its mission and community

Adam Birye
Assistant Director of Communications

Adam Birye is a Lake Braddock Secondary School junior and WYC’s Assistant Director of Communications. He loves coding and technology. He’s worked at Fidel Factory LLC, helping with website support and marketing. He participates in clubs like the Ethiopian Eritrean Student Association and Junior Investors Club. His social skills help him connect with people and work well in groups.

Mikal Berhe
Director of Media and marketing

Mikal Berhe is a rising senior at Lake Braddock Secondary School. As the Director of Media and marketing, she will develop a digital strategy highlighting the WEGENE Youth Club’s mission and message. She is grateful for this opportunity to be surrounded by many talented and kind individuals. Mikal enjoys listening to music, drinking coffee, and playing soccer in her spare time. She also leads in numerous STEM clubs, non-profit organizations, and student government positions.

Rebecca Solomon
Assistant Director of Media and marketing

Rebecca Solomon is a Lake Braddock Secondary School senior and serves as Wegene’s Assistant Director of Media and marketing. She looks forward to making a difference in her new position. Outside of WYC, she has been an active member of her school’s EESA (Ethiopia/Eritrean Student Association) since middle school.

Hiwot Daniel
Media and Marketing Assistant Director

Hiwot Daniel, a Georgetown Visitation senior, is the Media and Marketing Assistant Director. In addition to her role in WYC, Hiwot immerses herself in various school clubs, including the Womanist Club and French Club. As Assistant Director of Media and Marketing, Hiwot is determined to spread awareness through social media that effectively aligns with Wegene’s message. Outside academics, Hiwot enjoys listening to music and spending time with family and friends