EESO

I  joined the Ethiopian-Eritrean Student Organization (EESO) in August of 2014 during my first year at OSU, after finding it on OSU’s website in the list of cultural organizations. I knew I wanted to take advantage of such a big school like OSU, and meet other people who shared different and similar cultural backgrounds as me. What I did not know going in, however, was how many great, funny, and hardworking people I would meet and become friends with as a result. I have made so many memories just in the past two years, and have been able to connect on a different label with the place I consider my true home. Through events like Taste of OSU 2014, African Night 2014 & 2015, Coffee Night, Bowling, Group Dinners, Potluck 2014&15, Cookout 2015, Ethiopian New Years (Enkutatash), Involvement Fair, Difret Movie Premiere, and Educate the Horn, I have been involved in encouraging acknowledgement of my culture on campus. Although I have only spent three months in Ethiopia while in elementary school, I have always hung tight to my language, my culture, and my pride in the country of warriors (as cheesy as that is). I have gained so much from EESO, and hope to give back this upcoming year.eeso

UNICEF Student Summit 2016 – Washington, D.C.!

During the UNICEF Student Summit 2016, I had such an amazing time learning from students all over the country on how they implement different strategies at their schools, and how insightful UNICEF members really are. I learned so much about how UNICEF implements its policies worldwide, and gained amazing skills through the guest speakers (the power of using local religious leaders as a contradiction to FGM practices, for example). I plan to continue being involved with this wonderful organization which I’ve gained so much from, and hope to begin giving back in a leadership position during 2016-2017.

unicefstudentsummit

UNICEF-OSU

At the beginning of the 2014-15 school year- my first year at OSU- I decided I wanted to join UNICEF-OSU. Knowing what UNICEF was already, and the great things its involved in from water accessibility to ending of child marriage, I wanted to be a part of this great organization in any way I could. I came to the first meeting that year – the scavenger hunt- and immediately found an additional benefit of this club- the amazing people. I made friends that day that I still talk to for academic, social, and personal issues and I have found this to be an unexpected blessing of being a part of UNICEF-OSU. Although I was unable to attend every meeting last year due to a demanding work schedule, when I decided that this was an organization I wanted to commit to, I then made my class and work schedule around our meetings and events. Last year and this year, I volunteered at and attended many of our events- Mile of Change, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF on campus (my personal favorite), Homecoming Parade, Campus Parc, Dine and Donate Fundraiser, and Bake Sale on the Oval.

This year, I had the amazing opportunity to hold a leadership position as elected Head of Committee for our first ever Masquerade Ball. From finding a DJ through a friend, making the playlist, making/editing the flyer, posting around campus/advertising to friends/dorms, recruiting many of the volunteers who helped make the event a success, and other tasks, I feel I’ve gained many important skills and seen a sliver of what goes in to event planning and what makes events successful – we raised over $4,800, which doubled was incredible to have helped contributed to. I feel many of my leadership skills that I could bring to UNICEF-OSU board come from this role and the experiences that came with it. I had to work not only with a committee of people to bring together their best ideas and what they could contribute, but also relay this information back to board to make the event run smoothly and efficiently. I also worked along other exec members this year to host a Hunger Banquet at Bowen dorm, which was fun and helped me see what leading an event for people unfamiliar with UNICEF was like, and how best to present for these events. I love working to bring everyone’s’ individual talents and capabilities together to make the best events and activities that we can make as a group. I’m super excited to be elected as the Director of Recruitment & Outreach for 2016-2017!!! 🙂helinaunicef