Chantilly, VA
Digital Lab Ambassador
“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.” — Sydney J. Harris.
About Me
Hi, my name is Betel Yonas. I am a student at the International Community School (ICS) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and an ambassador for Girls Growing Education. Living in Ethiopia while attending an international school has given me a front-row seat to the vast differences in educational opportunities available to youth. Outside of the classroom, I am a competitive soccer and basketball player, and I find balance by playing my guitar. I have always been passionate about community work, from founding a music organization focused on mental health to advocating for women’s empowerment by providing menstrual health support to disadvantaged women in my community.
My Digital Lab
School Name: Wegene
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Number of Students: 30
Devices: 5 Chromebooks + 1 EdTech device
Educational Resource: Khan Academy (offline)
Why
I believe that a child’s potential should never be limited by their environment or their access to resources. Through my work with mental health and women’s empowerment, I have seen how quickly barriers—whether they are social, physical, or financial—can prevent a bright student from reaching their goals. Education is the foundation upon which all other forms of empowerment are built.
In Ethiopia, many students possess the drive and the intellect to succeed but are held back by the “digital divide.” Without reliable internet or modern tools, they are disconnected from the global wealth of knowledge. By implementing offline learning labs, we remove the barrier of connectivity. We provide a space where a girl can study math, science, and literacy without needing a data plan or a high-speed connection.
My goal is to ensure that the same quality of education I receive at an international school becomes more accessible to my neighbors. When we empower students with the tools to teach themselves, we aren’t just giving them facts; we are giving them the agency to change their own lives and, eventually, their country.
