The Ethio-Swedish Alumni Network is a group of more than 200 former students who have studied in Sweden with the support of the Swedish government. The alumni network was established in 2014 with a vision of connecting Ethiopians who have studied in Sweden as well as Swedish citizens studying in Ethiopia, to promote collaboration in areas of sustainable development and strengthen cultural ties among alumni members and between the two countries. Aschalew Bekele is one of those students who graduated from Sweden.
He is now serving the Ethio-Swedish Alumni Network as Board Chairperson. The Ethiopian Herald has just approached him for interview: Excerpts:
Herald: What are the missions and objectives of the network since its establishment?
Aschalew: The alumni network provides a platform for members to stay connected around a common experience of Sweden and work together for a better world. We embrace and celebrate the diversity of alumni members who have studied in Sweden in both graduate programs and short term training. Our alumni carry this spirit through unique opportunities for connection and community-building.
To specifically mention the major objectives, we are organizing activities involving alumni members to actively contribute to a fair and sustainable global development. This helps alumni members to build a life-long relation to Sweden and the alumni network.
In doing so the network contributes to increased knowledge of Sweden, Swedish culture, and their experience and competences internationally, and supports Sweden’s commitments to the UN Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
Herald: What supports are you getting from the Swedish Institute and Embassy of Sweden in Addis Ababa to further strengthen Ethio-Swedish Alumni Network?
Aschalew: Swedish Institute supports in various ways alumni networks located around the world offering financial support, among which Ethio-Swedish Alumni Network is one of them. The Swedish Institute (SI) is a public agency that promotes interest and trust in Sweden around the world. Besides, Swedish Institute works in the fields of culture, education, science, and business to strengthen international relations and development.
As a certified network by the Swedish Institute (SI), we are always welcome to propose an activity involving alumni members based on a toolkit provided by the institute to further develop our network.
In doing so, Swedish Institute builds lasting relations between Sweden and other countries to increase interest in Sweden. To this end, Swedish Institute shares information, develop skills, promote cultural exchange and cooperation, and provide funding and grants.
Swedish Institute supports and collaborates with businesses, universities, cultural institutions and Swedish embassies around the world. On the other hand, the embassy of Sweden in Addis Ababa works with us in some social activities like send-off and pre-departure events. This is something we really appreciate and we always volunteer to share information with new students traveling to Sweden.
We mainly, provide first-hand information about studying in Sweden. In addition to supports given to our alumni activities, we need to work very closely with the Swedish Embassy to promote the cultural amenities and educational values of Swedish Universities. I think it is very essential that the Embassy of Sweden in Addis Ababa further work with us to strengthen our capacity promoting Swedish Universities and Swedish culture to other actors.
Herald: What kind of tasks the Ethio-Swedish Alumni Network do to benefit the members and the community at large?
Aschalew: As it is well known, currently it is becoming customarily that various alumni-networks have been established in Ethiopia. However, their working culture, level of interventions and key strategies vary from one alumni network to the other.
In these regard, our network is involved in several social activities such as, cultural exchange programs e.g. Swedish Institute Alumni Forum: Making an impact through entrepreneurship, Cinnamon bun baking day, Event on “Promoting Swedish Investment in Ethiopia” and, Pre-Departure events collaboratively with Sweden Embassy, the Great Ethiopian run, study in Europe fairs, trees planting programs, culture exchange events organized by the Sweden embassy, annual members meeting and also participate in several global partnership meetings and conferences prepared by Swedish Institute representing our network.
Herald: What are the challenges the network faced not to realize its goals?
Aschalew: Although we are aspired to accomplish several activities, we encountered a few challenges to realize our goals. The fact that the network is a volunteer association we do not have an office and a full-time office worker who can manage the routine activities. The alumni network has volunteer board members working to realize its goals.
These board members are working on a part-time base on top of other life commitments to maintain the network activities. We highly appreciate it if we can organize the network as a not-for-profit professional association and have a permanent office to maintain communication with alumni members and partner organizations.
Currently, we are working to secure funds and to establish an association that can facilitate alumnus working activities to serve the community and involve members in the sustainable development of our country.
Herald: How far the network has been doing on people connectivity between Ethiopians and Swedish citizens?
Aschalew: I think this is the main reason we are organized as a network. That is, to maintain the relationship among scholars and improve the connectivity between Ethiopian Scholars and Swedish people. In this regard, I believe the Swedish Institute supporting us financially together with a positive response on request.
Every year, Swedish Institute host annual meeting programs together with other current global issues to be discussed among members from different countries. On this occasion our board members are invited to participate and share with the alumni group, such as Noble Week Dialogue and Annual meeting programs, held in different cities of Sweden.
As an alumni network, we don’t host program since we have limited funding’s to prepare such a huge event may be in the future we may have to organize forces to mobilize resources and make it happen.
Herald: Does the network have any contribution to the capacity building of the youth and socio-economic improvement of the community?Aschalew: In this regard, we have some planned activities to provide capacity building training programs in our respective professional fields. These include of occupational safety and health administration, environmental protection and management, resource mobilization techniques for NGO leaders, child management for orphanage organization, maternal health, nutrition advocacy and communication strategies, and so on.
I think we will start providing these programs in the year 2020/21. We are screening beneficiary organizations and as soon as we secure volunteer alumni members at least once in a week to actively engage in our ‘challenge for societal change’ program. Hopefully, we will register a great achievement in building the capacities of youth groups and improve the social and economic statuses of our community.
Herald: What life essences of the Swedish people have to share for Ethiopians?
Aschalew: Of course, there are a lot of wonderful things we can share from Swedish people. Among these life essences, Swedes are serious about punctuality, agendas and time tables. It is considered very disrespectful to be late both professionally and privately. Punctuality is a virtue. Seven o’clock means seven o’clock if you are invited for dinner. The other thing we may share is Swedes are fond of their animals. Cats and dogs are treated as family and live inside the home.
When taking your dog for walks you are requested to pick up your animal’s disposal and insert it into a garbage bin. If you see quick facts about Sweden you will find that, Sweden is the most sustainable country in the world. According to the Sweden’s official website, “for most Swedes today, sustainability is a way of life”.
Furthermore, Swedes hold nature in high esteem, which is one reason why environmental issues are so important. Only one per cent of solid waste goes to landfill in Sweden with the rest recycled or used to produce heat, electricity or vehicle fuel in the form of biogas. Moreover, Swedes have very restrictive views on violence and they are very peaceful, polite, and neutral in war.
On top of all this things, Swedes work hard but they also take their rest and relaxation seriously. Take for instance the fika which is a coffee break that normally consists of coffee or tea, cookies or sweet buns, but can also include soft drinks, fruit and sandwiches. This is a social institution and an important part of the national culture.
Herald: Tell us about participating in the Ethiopian great run?
Aschalew: As we discussed earlier we participate in various events to maintain our relationship with our alumni members. The Great Ethiopian Run 2019 is one of the events we steadily participate in every year. We have already registered alumni members for the race and bought the running T-shirts for 25 individuals on the bases of first-come-first-served online registration link, and I can’t wait to meet everyone on Sunday, November 17, 2019, for the challenge.
Since we have a limited budget to purchase the running T-shirt, I would like to welcome other alumni members to be part of us and enjoy the race. I strongly believe these kinds of events help alumni members to keep in touch with friends, socialize and exchange information on various issues.
Herald: Does the network promote on cultural diplomacy? If yes, could you brief us about that?
Aschalew: Cultural diplomacy is a huge concept. It is soft power and a lot of preparation and event organization skill is required to actively involve and be part of it. Nevertheless, if there is a chance to be part of the cultural diplomacy engagement, we are always ready to take the lead and work together to ensure our alliance. We haven’t yet got the chance to be part of any cultural diplomacy events. However, we are always ready to accept new adventures and learn gradually from the challenges.
Herald: What are the prospects of the network to achieve?
Aschalew: In addition to the social activities mentioned earlier, we would like to render services to our alumni members in the future in a bid to maintain job hunters’ emails list and to try to get job opportunity information and send directly to their inbox. It as well is linking members with various Swedish companies working in a synergy workshop. And put alumni into contact when asked, and support global networking.
We will have support Community Service Organizations (CSOs) through volunteer education and training programs in their respective social and economic development activities. Moreover, we are also planning to continuously share scholarship and grant information for those who would like to pursue advanced studies.
Herald: At last, you are welcome to convey your message.
Aschalew: I have a few things to say to our current and future alumni members’ joining our network. If you are one of those who graduated from Sweden, you are advised to be part of the network. Your alumni are your greatest asset. And likely, this is unrecognized, under-utilized or both. In most cases, alumni engagement in our country is a concept that is downgraded to a once in a year reunion, which is a few speeches, dinner and dance. If you see most alumni networks who have been steadily cultivating their Alumni members for decades now have a progressive output.
Being part of an alumni network is important for many reasons. Firstly, an alumnus is an institution where you can find the most loyal supporters to your planned activities, sharing experiences and exchange of information. Secondly, alumni generate invaluable word-of-mouth marketing among their social and professional networks which is useful for personal consumption. Thirdly, by engaging alumni, an institution can continue to benefit from their skills and experiences. Fourth, alumni serve great role models for current students and are often well placed to offer practical support to students as they start their careers.
Good alumni relations benefit alumni as well as the institution. I consider alumni network members as international ambassadors for their country in various social, economic, and cultural developments. Therefore, maintaining communication channels with alumni means you can keep them informed of your achievements and make them part of your institution’s future. In a nutshell, I advise incoming and existing alumni members to either implicitly or explicitly contribute to the on-going activities of the Ethio-Swedish alumni network to materialize our objectives.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition 3 November 2019
BY MEHARI BEYENE
