We prepare Ethiopian/Eritrean students for life after high school

Our Youth Group members recieve college and career prep, learn about thier culture, and volunteer in Charlotte

Join Us

Non-Profit

Established in 2014 as a sub committee of the Ethiopian Community of Charlotte.

Vision

We want to create a community where students can surround themselves with positive influences

Values

Civic engagement, service, mentorship, leadership

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Our Mission

  • Leadership training & College Preparation with an emphasis on helping younger generations
  • Learning and embracing Ethiopian/Eritrean culture and language
  • Civic engagement- seeking opportunities to engage with the greater Charlotte community and give back
  • Social network for high-achieving Ethiopian/Eritrean (Habesha) students in the Charlotte area
35 Number of Members
5 Number of Youth Leaders
12 Number of Volunteers
250 Volunteer hours in 2018

Service areas

Cultural & Language Immersion

Students learn about their culture including the language, food, and music

Civic Engagement & Service

Seeking opportunities to engage with the greater Charlotte community. Learning the value of giving back.

College and Career Preparation

Students get exposure to guest speakers who are either professionals or current college students. We also offer help with the college search and application process along with career exploration.

Leadership Training

There are several oppurtunities to take leadership roles in the Youth Group. Students can learn about different styles of leadersihp along with building self-awareness and confidence. Our mission is to train the next group of youth and community leaders.

Expanding Social Networks

Meeting other high-achieving Ethiopian and Eritrean youth. Our students foster life-long friendships with their peers.

Mentorship

We offer students mentoship oppurtunities with a wide variety of professionals in the area. We also seek to build a bridge between parents and students.

Testimonials

“The Ethiopian Youth Group has influenced my life in many different ways. From the very first day I stepped foot onto the Al-Basha Restaurant, in which we had our first meetings, I felt connected to my Ethiopian community. Throughout my high school journey, the mentors have helped me every step of the way. I learned how to take pride in where I came from and how to teach others about Ethiopia. Most Ethiopians are first-generation students. This Youth group focuses on teaching students how to apply for college, gain insightful experiences, and be a well-rounded person. While we did not know each other at first, we now consider each other as family. As I move on to another chapter of my life, I am very thankful for the Ethiopian Youth Group because without them, I would not be where I am today.”

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Lidia Adem - Member

“We've been there several times now and we always havea good time. I have 4 kids and they get to play with other Ethiopian kids and make friends. They get college and life advice from the mentors. There is even a parent chat room if anyone needs help with transportation for the kids.”

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Roman Aklilu - Parent

“I love partnering with the Ethiopian Youth Group. They were such a big help during the Ethiopian culture festival this year. They brought enthusiasm and fun to our event and they helped with every aspect of the festival. The organizers care about the kids and always push them to do their best.”

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Leul Shewangizaw - Tesfa Ethiopia

Our Impact

Every year we go out and volunteer in our community with different organizations around Charlotte. At these events our members contribute to the success of the organization and learn valuable life skills.

Camp LUCK

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August 2018

A non-profit organization that strives to improve the lives of kids and families coping with heart disease by empowering to live life to the fullest. Our Youth Group volunteer yearly at Camp LUCK Kids Camp to help setup and cleanup the camp ground.

Camp Luck is a medically supervised resident camp for kids with heart disease and one sibling. It is located at Camp Cherokee, which is nestled in 7,000 beautiful acres at Kings Mountain State Park.

Bike LUCK

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May 2018

Our Youth Group volunteer every year at Bike LUCK – a fundraising event for Camp LUCK.

Levines Childrens Hospital Valentines Day

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February 2018

Volunteers helped make Valentine's day cards for the Pediatric Oncology unit at LCI.

Sardis Presbyterian Church

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October 2018

Bi-annual event to support the women and children shelters around Mecklenburg County.

Hospitality House Luck

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December 2018

Hospitality House of Charlotte provides the comforts of home for families of seriously ill loved ones by offering affordable accommodations in the heart of Charlotte’s medical community. Our Youth Group volunteer and prepare meals for guests of Hospitality House of Charlotte.

Tesfa Ethiopia Annual Festival

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May 2019

Members played a critical role in helping Tesfa Ethiopia's festival. They helped with various roles during the event and provided entertainment in the form of dancing, acting, and a fashion show.

Join Us!

We meet on the campus of UNCC every other Saturday. Call us at 704-284-9319 or fill out the form below to attend our next orientation