Abel Gashe

 For more than 20 years, Abel dedicated his life to Ethiopia and the Ethiopian community as an advocate of peace, democracy and human rights, as well as a community leader in both religious and community development settings. He is also a media personality to be the voice for the voiceless.

Abel is a natural and visionary leader with a positive mindset that brings the community together for a shared goal.  His accomplishments are organized in three key areas: Community Service, Civic Engagement, and Media, among other things.

 Church service and leadership

• Abel has been the Chairman of the board for Debre Genet Medehanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Church (DGMA) with proven leadership that helped the church to pursue a new expansion and growth plan to build a new building for about 5 million dollars.
• Abel has been appointed by His Grace Abune Abraham as the Chairman of Tsireha Tsion Kidist Mariam Project to build a trans-generational spiritual institution in Bahar Dar Diocese. Abel has led the committee to raise $600 000 that served as the seed money to spearhead the project.
• Abel has been the chairman of the Hamere BerhanAba Samuel Monastery established here in Virginia, USA. Abel led a committee that has succeeded in purchasing a monastery for 1.6 million dollars, which is located at 18429 Youngs Ln, Elkwood, VA.
• In similar missions, Abel has been part of the committee responsible for the fundraising efforts in the Washington Metro area led by His Grace Abune Ermias to support victims of war in the Northern Wollo region, raising more than $300 000.  Abel has also helped the fund-raising effort of His Grace Abune Tewoflos, to buy a monastery in California.

Community Service and Leadership:  

• Abel served for two terms as part of the board, both as a Secretary and the Chairman,   for Tayitu Cultural and Educational Center that has been excelling in the Washington Metro for the last  23 years.
• Abel is the co-founder and the Fund-Raising Chairman, Haddis Alemayehu Academy in Northern America (HANNA):  Abel currently serves as the chairman of Fund Raising and Public Relations committee for the organization.   HANNA is currently raising funds to support the construction of a modern library for the Academy. The newly opened academy has been part of the media spotlight recently for its unique role to empower all its graduates to pass the national Ethiopian exam set by Ministry of Education.

• Abel has been instrumental in creating, developing and promoting Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund (EDTF) chapter in Washington Metro area.:

• Abel has been the Co-founder Global Ethiopian Diaspora Association Group (GEDAG) that raised 140,000,000 birr to refugees in Debre Berhane and other places.
• Abel served as a Secretary for Tesfa Malaria Association:  raised more than $50,000 dollars to help victims of Malaria in the Gojjam region and to raise awareness about the disease and its preventive measures.
• Abel is the Co-founder and the current chairman of The Ghion Edir Association, Washington DC metro area: The Edir has now more than 250 members who get the benefit of up to $15 000 funeral expense in time of death.

Civic Engagement: Abel has been a part of several forums, coalitions and organizations that promote peaceful dialogue and collaboration, and advocate for political and policy solutions in support of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian people.

• Abel is the Co-founder and Secretary, Ethiopians Constructive Engagement Forum: Abel has been co-founder for Ethiopian Constructive Engagement Forum that has been working to provide suitable platform to bring Ethiopians together. Abel has led the delegate to participate in a national conference conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to form the Ethiopian Elders Council in Ethiopia, that includes Elders and statesmen from the 9 regions, sponsored and espoused by the Ministry of Peace.

• Abel is also the Founder and Chairman, Ethiopian Center for Peace, and Progress (ECPP):which is established to promote peace among Ethiopians and help the effort to direct the Ethiopian society on the path of progress   As a chairman of the Center, Abel has been a member of the 9 people delegate that has travelled to Ethiopia to show solidarity to Ethiopia and its people by delivering needed supplies to different Refugee centers including Ataye, Kemisse and other center.
• Abel has been served as the PR and Media member, American Ethiopian Public Action Committee (AEPAC):promoting the mission of the organization, especially in the effort to create awareness in the media as well as in the US Congress.
• Abel Gashe has initiated and applied a youth development and leadership program in July 2019 espousing a pilot program to provide a package of courses for the young in Ethiopia. The pilot project was conducted at Debere Markos University with the sponsorship of the University that provides a six-module course package in Entrepreneurship, Youth Development, communication, leadership, and other pertinent topics.
• Abel has been part of the leadership to stir and galvanize Ethiopian Virginia voters to seek support for Ethiopia’s sovereignty that helped challenge the gubernatorial  election in state unseating the democratic incumbent.
• Abel is the co-founder of the African Steering Committee in Northern Virginia, an advocacy group for African interests in the US Congress and government.
• Abel has been the director of the Media and Public Relations effort that was organized to host the new Prime Minister of Ethiopia in July 2018. Abel has provided savvy leadership in bringing together more than 60 media, both Ethiopian and non-Ethiopian, local and international, which in turn helped to create awareness and galvanize more than 40000 Ethiopians who come together to welcome the Prime Minister and support his new initiative and vision to redirect the Ethiopian society to a new peaceful and development path.

When the role of media became critical in amplifying the voices of victims of violence and at a time the nation’s integrity was under threat, Abel used media to give voice to the voiceless.  

Abel has been the Host of the Friday Table on Adebabay Media, “Intellectuals Round Table” “የምሁራን ጠረጴዛ”  featuring various Ethiopian intellectuals, activists, social leaders, from different facets of life. This program presents different topics pertinent to the political, social, economic  and  spiritual issues related to the Ethiopian community.

Abel has interviewed prominent figures such as Mr. Gebereyes Begna, CEO of Amalgameted, Ms. Meaza Mohammed, a journalist and social activist, Dr. Yonas Birru, world bank economist, Bitsue Abune Ermias, Archbishop of Northern Wollo and member of the synod, and many others who speak on Ethiopian socio-political issues. This has attracted hundreds of thousands of views from across the globe.

Abel is a constant commentator on different media channels including Anchor Media, EMS Eletawi, and other media outlets. He has been featured on Voice of America, Hello Ethiopia, EBS, and such newspapers as Addis Zemen and Ethiopian Herald.

Abel is married with Mrs. Yenewud Belay for the last 33 years and has two grown up children, Hawariya Gashe, who is currently working as a senior manager in Data Science and Data analytics at Reynolds American and Bezawit Gashe who is an Occupational Health and Safety Data Analyst for ERG.