Hi, my name is Luana DeBorst. I am the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Bereka Buna. I was born in Ecuador and grew up in Argentina, El Salvador and Costa Rica with a short stint in the US. This international and multicultural upbringing, paired with my later interdisciplinary studies and work at the intersections of education, international development, literature and the arts, have instilled in me a desire to strengthen cultural exchange and foster learning opportunities across boarders.

After graduating from the University of Oxford with a Masters in Comparative and International Education, I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, which allowed me to live in Ethiopia for just under a year, delving into the country’s vibrant cultures and beginning to learn Amharic. I hoped that by launching Bereka Buna, I’d not only be forced to study the language at a deeper level, but would also be able to expand access to learning resources to others in search of avenues into the Amharic language. Whether you are of Ethiopian descent looking to reconnect with your heritage, or are a ferengi interested in exploring a new culture and language, I hope that Bereka Buna may help guide you along your language learning journey.

In my free time, I love to dance (and teach) salsa, play football (soccer), and explore new places (anything from a local live music venue to countries far far away). I like to write the same way I cook, pulling together a seemingly random assortment of strands/ingredients and weaving them into some kind of narrative/meal; the creative process (and the resulting repast) bring me joy.

Selam, I’m Adam Abebe. I’m the Co-Founder and Chief Operations Director of Bereka Buna. I was born and raised in Ethiopia, in Gondar and Bahir Dar. I started working on Bereka Buna because I wanted to help my wife learn the language of my homeland. I hope for Bereka Buna(BB) to be a resource to others interested in learning, especially for the Ethiopian diaspora born or raised abroad.

I currently work at the World Bank, focusing on East and Southern Africa Education operations team. I recently completed my PhD at the University of Oxford, where I researched on the role of education in ethnic conflicts and peacebuilding in Ethiopia. At Oxford, I was the first Ethiopian Rhodes Scholar and one of two Global Rhodes Scholars chosen from countries around the world. Prior to my Ph.D. studies, I completed my first and second degrees at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), majoring in Public Health and completing a Masters in Non-Profit Leadership.

When I am not working my day job or on Bereka Buna, I am an avid runner, football player, and outdoors camper. Fun fact, I completed a 10,000 Km cross-country month-long road trip, covering 17 states and 10 national parks in the United States (even forced to sleep on the floors of clean bathrooms because temperatures got to -10 °C!).

Hello, my name is Berhanemeskel Kassahun. I was born in Gondar and raised in Bahir Dar. I graduated from Blue Nile College in Bahir Dar with a degree in business management. I completed a teacher training course under the direction of Selamawit Geleta, a well-known and very experienced Amharic Language Instructor based in Addis Ababa.

I currently work full-time as an Amharic teacher, offering private and group classes across Addis Ababa, including at the French Embassy, Spanish Cooperation Office and SUP Studios. What I appreciate most about the job is that it has allowed me to meet people from different countries, so far engaging with students from more than 30 countries and from every continent except Antarctica. Prior to starting my career as a language instructor, I worked as a tour guide, logistics coordinator and live language interpreter. For Bereka Buna, I act as part of the core team, supporting with content production, transcription and project administration. In my free time I love to watch football and TV shows. I also enjoy going on hiking trips, since I love walking so much.

Hello, my name is Dawit Feleke . I was born and raised in Ethiopia, Bahr Dar city. I am currently an undergraduate student at Addis Ababa University in the theater department. In this theater department, I am more interested in the areas of playwriting and theater production. I have written and prepared plays during school. I work as a video editor in the Bereka Buna team.

Hello, I am Abel Kidane. I have a postgraduate diploma in Advanced Studies and Research with a focus on Physics, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Ashoka University in India.

I also have a diploma for completing a one-year training in entrepreneurship and developing clean energy solutions at the Energy Generation Academy in Togo. During this program, I represented Ethiopia among participants from across Africa. At the end of the program, my invention won the first prize of the Africa Energy Generation Prize.

I have experience in developing web applications, with skills in both backend and frontend development. I currently work as a software developer. I enjoy creating automated processes and I’m passionate about technology, finding joy in solving problems with tech solutions.

Hi, my name is Selamawit Geleta Muka. I am a passionate language instructor with over 16 years of experience teaching Amharic to people of all ages and nationalities. I collaborate with Bereka Buna as a language instructor and storyteller for the Podcast’s Story Series. I currently run Selam Language and Cultural School in Mekanisa, Addis Ababa, where we offer Amharic and Afaan Oromoo classes. I am the proud mother of three and enjoy sharing my enthusiasm for language and storytelling with my students.

Hello, I am Ermias Mulat. I am a Graphics Designer for Bereka Buna. I currently work as an Associate Flight Instructor for Ethiopian Airlines. I have been training at Ethiopian Aviation Academy for the past two years, and as of now, have more than 200 hours of flight time.

Prior to this, I graduated with a BSC in architecture from Addis Ababa University. I have participated in a range of architectural designs, including university classrooms, auditoriums, churches, guesthouses, residences, hotels, restaurants, and the like. I was later enrolled in a Master’s program in Architectural Engineering (MAEN) during which I worked jointly with the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) in the gathering and analysis of local conditions regarding industry parks in Ethiopia.

In my free time I enjoy discussing theology and philosophy.

Hi, I’m Tsion Atnaf. I am the social media and communications officer for Bereka Buna. I am a freelance architect and have designed multiple residential units, commercial buildings, interior designs, and landscape.  

I graduated from Addis Ababa University with an architecture degree. I am a member of Nitro Engineering, a cooperative group, where I design community and sustainability focused projects. I have expertise in graphic illustration, renders and architectural 3D animations.  

I am also a pyrography artist. I developed the skill during the Covid-19 lockdown and was able to successfully turn it into a small business. Outside of work, I enjoy drawing and volunteering at my local church.