Worknesh is passionate about community-focused development focused on women. She was inspired by her mother-in-law, who was committed to improving the lives of Ethiopian women and helped entire communities.
Worknesh is a true example of the strong women who lead their countries.
Like so many girls in Ethiopia, Worknesh quit school at the age of 15, married, and started a family. Luckily for her, her mother-in-law insisted that Worknesh continue her education, and cared for Worknesh’s children to allow her to do so.
Aside from her work with GTF, Worknesh taught biology and home economics in high school. In 2013, she returned to Ethiopia after some years caring for her grandchildren in the U.S. Her intent had always been to set up an organization to facilitate humanitarian development projects among impoverished rural communities and she did this when she registered Tarkanfi Sustainable Development as an Ethiopian NGO. Tarkanfi means “the first step.”
Worknesh is a remarkable and highly motivated woman, a true example of the strong women who lead their countries in educating the young and providing economic stability to communities. In 2014 we were pleased to partner with her on some micro-finance initiatives, small irrigation projects, and spring-well development work, all of which were very successful.