The 1st ESAN Youth Forum will feature Dr. Aster Tsegay and Ephrem Woldeyesus, both high achieving individuals in the field of medicine and social enterprise development, respectively.

Dr. Aster Tsegaye: Dr. Aster was born in Adama and grew up in Harar, Ethiopia. Dr. Aster received a BSc in Biology and MSc in Zoology from the Addis Ababa University (AAU), and a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She is currently an Associate professor at AAU in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science. Dr. Aster has mentored several students including PhDs. Moreover, she has made great contributions to the scientific community in the field of Medical Science, which her work has been disseminated through peer-reviewed journals (60 publications: author & co-author). More importantly, Dr. Aster is known for being an exemplary role model who has inspired several Ethiopians, particularly females to pursue a career in science. She is the founder and president of The Society of Ethiopian Women in Science and Technology (SEWiST) in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology that focuses on preparing women scientists at the early stage of their career to be successful scientists. She was the first female Chief Executive Officer of Black Lion Medical Teaching Hospital in 2010. Dr. Aster has received several awards for her scientific achievements and extraordinary service contributions including TDR/WHO (2015), USD Research grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology (2016), Co-PI for Alexander Humboldt Alumni Award (2018). 

Ephrem Woldeyesus: Ephrem Woldeyesus received his BA in Psychology from Dire Dawa University. He also received a certificate from the Dalai Lama Fellow program from the University of Virginia Contemplative Sciences Center and Young African Leaders Initiative YALI RLC EA. Currently, he is the program manager of ECOP (Erk mead Community Psychosocial Program) and radio co-host at Erk mead media, and communications based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He is also the founder and executive director of SunEko Art for Social Development. Ephrem worked over eight years in nonprofit and social enterprise sectors to expand social enterprise and create awareness about mental health in Ethiopia. He designed and executed a social circus for peace and development programs, where children and youth can acquire the therapeutic benefits of art. He helped to improve the mental and psychosocial health of more than two thousand women and youth every year, using a community-based social enterprise project. Ephrem worked with Save the Children International, Handicap International, Population Services International, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Pact, Reach for Change, Growth Africa, and Total S.A. on human resource capacity building programs and social entrepreneurship business models.