About Us
Ethiopian Women’s Alliance in Victoria (EWAV) was formed in 2016, founder Emayenesh Seyoum who, with a group of like-minded Ethiopian women recognised that as linguistically, ethnically and religiously diverse community, the Ethiopian community in Victoria was ready for a more unified and collaborative approach to tackling the complex problems experienced by individuals and families. By working with women, the founders believed, EWAV could begin to tackle issues rather than focus on particular linguistic, ethnic and religious groups. As EWAV grew, more and more women joined with the same commitment to service to community; to focusing on supporting and empowering women as they navigate settlement, working and raising Ethiopian-Australian children; and to building one community in Victoria.
- Respect for women and the linguistic, religious and culturally diverse communities they come from.
- Empowerment of women at the individual level and as a collective of diverse Ethiopian women in Victoria.
- Trust in the people we assist and support, in our members and colleagues and in the communities we come from
- Transparency in the way we do our work, in our accountability to community and our funders Empathy and fair treatment for all people we come across.
Our Work
The Mother’s Day/Family Day celebration is our key event which we use as an avenue to raise awareness on social and health matters. Our recent work & activities include:
- Let’s Get Active Together: we worked in partnership with the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, the City of Maribyrnong and other community services and associations to raise awareness on the power of sport for young people and to prevent and minimise the harm caused by alcohol and other drugs.
- Invite professionals to run educational seminars on youth mental health. For example, in 2017, Professor Patrick McGorry was invited to run a seminar on youth mental and substance abuse, this was important to highlight how intergenerational gaps can affect youth mental and where to access support services.
- Launched a panel discussion on family violence and its impact on children.
- Community webinar seminars focusing on the cause of unhealthy relationships specific to the Ethiopian and Eritrean community
- We have provided support to vulnerable people in our community including newly arrived and asylum seekers of Ethiopian heritage through fundraising initiatives and linking them to mainstream services and people within the community.
We recently started a YouTube channel series called Let’s Connect. In this program we discuss issues and challenges relevant to the community. We interview community members including kids to discuss their understanding of the different social issues and to celebrate their cultural heritage and identity.
- Created community connections and participation (via Zoom) during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce loneliness and isolation in the Ethiopian community in Victoria.
- Increase awareness of the importance of mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Provide translated COVID-19 updates and information in Amharic
Our Team
![Emma-Seyoum-Tegegn Emma-Seyoum-Tegegn](https://ewav.org.au/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Emma-Seyoum-Tegegn-pciykn0uobuib5w65jz62h2ezwiqrp8p32t1m1dehs.jpg)
Emma Seyoum-Tegegn
Founder and President
![](https://ewav.org.au/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Tsigreda-Mekonnen-pcua65zrtmssc7rz29mw5ns8dsknza4juak0dgscrk.jpg)
Tsigreda Mekonnen
Vice President
![](https://ewav.org.au/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Helen-Taye-Abebe-pcua9k6si3g29iuh8qge5sy5lvudrxlnn3d4rfr6ao.jpg)
Helen Taye Abebe
Treasurer
![](https://ewav.org.au/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Hanna-Tadesse-1-pcuaazvwxzeu02rduusvgxwia2rkjaaw678u5nmisg.jpg)
Hanna Tadesse
Secretary
![](https://ewav.org.au/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Meskerem-Tadesse-pcuae5mdwxqj0w66epyqcn7a5p6zenuexu6l84xvvk.jpg)
Meskerem Tadesse
Executive Committee Member
![](https://ewav.org.au/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Meron-Tesfaye-Gebrehiwot-1-pcua66xm0gu2ntqlws1iq5joz6g16z8a6f7huqqylc.jpg)