የኢትዮዽያውያን ዴሞክራቶች ድረ-ገፅEthiopian Democrats' Website

Addis Ababa University (AAU) awarded honorary doctorate degree to the founder of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, Dr. Catherin Hamlin at a magnificent graduation ceremony held here at the millennium hall.

While introducing her to the crowd AAU president Prof. Andrias Eshete said makes tireless works and to devote a life time ministering to young women suffering from the incapacitating and degrading consequences of obstructed labor.

He said she has rescued over 20,000 women from this insufferable fate.

After receiving her honorary degree Dr. Catherin said Ethiopia is a beautiful country and suitable to live.

She urged the graduates to work here and change themselves as well as their country. She said don’t go away please serve your country ...don’t give up.”

It is one of the most overlooked subjects in Ethiopia and diaspora, with no policy or understanding of the fundamental issues involved in the so called "Brain Drain".

1) Why do talented people, not just graduates  leave Ethiopia ?

2) Once they leave, are they satisfied with their life in the diaspora? (professionally, socially and spiritually)

Travel writer Paul Theroux, wrote an article on this very subject a year or two back. He went to Africa Malawi as a young peace corp in the 60s and he went back to East Africa (Kenya,Uganda and Tanzania) again recently and wrote a book about it called Dark Safari. He makes an excellent observation especially about educated/gradute people leaving Africa. He made very strong damning statement about the so called educated Africans who leave for Europe or the States. I had read an article he wrote on the subject but not his book. I fully understand and share his  critic of us, Africans.

We need to engage with Ethiopians at home and abroad to come up with a solution. I donot think that the Ethiopian government can be expected to address this issue alone. The problem has been going on in Ethiopia since the Emperor's time but became wide spread following the Derg brutal reign.

 Some may want to categorize it as political problem but it is just does not stand up to scrutiny. Very few graduate leave as direct result of political involvement. In fact most graduates  I have met have been apolitical when they were in Ethiopia.

I left Ethiopia when I was young so my views are not personal experience. I obtained all my higher education abroad including part of highschool. Nevertheless it is always at the fore front of my mind to return home.