Ethiopia: Dr. Bekele Geleta of IFRC – the Road to Service
CNN International’s African Voices featured Dr. Bekele Geleta, the Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Last year, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Leeds, the United Kingdom, from where he graduated with an MA in Transport Economics in 1974. Dr. Bekele Geleta has gone from being the General Manager of the Franco-Ethiopian Railway Company in 1974, to being Derg’s political prisoner suspected of being an Oromo political activist in 1978, to being the Secretary General of the Ethiopian Red Cross in 1984, to being the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications in 1989, to being the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Japan during the Transitional Government of Ethiopia in 1992, to being a clerk at a gas station in Canada as a refugee, to being the Secretary General of IFRC since 2008 – the world’s largest humanitarian organization.
PART ONE:
African Voices talks to Bekele Geleta about his work for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
PART TWO:
How Bekele Geleta’s experiences as a political prisoner and refugee led him to a life of service.
PART THREE:
Bekele Geleta talks about the Red Cross moving beyond disaster management and into development and preparedness.
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ABdiGudda said,
May 3, 2010 @ 1:04 am
this guy is great. He is thoughtful, articulate and caring. He is a pride to Oromo and Africa.
Dhimma Sabaa said,
May 3, 2010 @ 6:20 am
Indeed.. well said AbdiGudda. Obbo. Galeta…i would simply like to say god bless u and keep your great job. Your awesome, hard working man. You have seen, and faced both side of leaving in this planet of earth that’s what lead you where you already are. So great work..”we proud of you”!!
Saleh said,
May 3, 2010 @ 8:34 pm
Great job………keep up hard working Dr. Bekele but keep in mind the Oromo situation wherever you will be. We really proud of you.
Kabeta said,
May 4, 2010 @ 6:04 pm
He is a good example for those diaspora who always think that once you are out of the cosy government or private business office, for different reasons ,it is not possible to climb up the ladder once again in life is wrong assumption. If you are committed and goal oriented and try to fit your self in any system under different circumstances you can achieve dreams.
ibrahim abdella said,
May 5, 2010 @ 5:22 am
waa woo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!we all proud of you dr. Bakele you are amazing person keep it up!!!!! but do’t forget Oromo people.this poeple don’t have help from any body else inthis planet as you know.good luck!!
nimoonaa said,
June 23, 2010 @ 12:25 pm
I am very proud to Dr.Bekele Geleta., becaus of he penetrated all problem faced during the regime of Derg and cintiniued by
Weyane/ TPLF.We must like him stong ourselves.