Our Team
Meet Our Dedicated Team
Our passionate team of professionals and advocates drives ENWS’s mission to support and empower women across Ethiopia. Click on each profile to learn more about their inspiring journeys.
Eden Ayele
Executive Director
Eden Ayele is the Executive Director of the Ethiopian Network of Women Shelters (ENWS), where she has dedicated over 10 years to advocating for women's rights and providing support to survivors of violence. With extensive experience in the NGO sector, Eden is known for her strong work ethic and commitment to empowering women and promoting gender equality in Ethiopia. Her leadership at ENWS has been instrumental in developing programs that offer shelter, resources, and advocacy for vulnerable women, making a significant impact on their lives and the community.
Habtamu Wondimagegne
Communication Officer
Habtamu Wondimagegne is ENWS Communication Officer
Henok Abera
Project Officer
Henok Abera is ENWS Project Officer
Samrawit Getiye
Data Management and M&E Officer
Samrawit Getiye is ENWS Data Management and M&E Officer
Fekadu Dufera
Finance Officer
Fekadu Dufera is ENWS Finance Officer
Mahder Dese
Assistant Admin
Mahder Dese is ENWS Assistant Admin
Meet Our Board Members
Our Board of Directors provides strategic direction and governance, ensuring ENWS continues to make an impactful difference in the lives of women across Ethiopia.
Maria Munir
Board Chairperson
Maria's Impact on Women's Empowerment and Advocacy in Ethiopia Maria's journey is a powerful testament to her unwavering commitment to advancing women's rights and combating gender-based violence in Ethiopia. Born in Addis Ababa to Harari parents, Maria's passion for social justice was evident from a young age. While still in high school, she began her charitable work, raising relief funds for the Wollo famine in partnership with the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). Her legal career began with her appointment as a judge at the High Court of Ethiopia. As a lawyer, Maria co-founded the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA) in 1995, working alongside pioneering women like Meaza Ashenafi and Atsedeweine Tekle. This organization laid the foundation for significant progress in the legal rights of women in Ethiopia. In 2003, Maria took another monumental step by founding the "Organization Against Gender-Based Violence" in Ethiopia, which would later be renamed the Association for Women's Sanctuary and Development (AWSAD) in 2009. AWSAD became the first organization in the country to provide exclusive shelter and support for vulnerable women, offering them safety, resources, and hope for a better future. Maria’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2011, she had the honor of meeting Michelle Bachelet, then Executive Director of UN Women, during her visit to AWSAD. This encounter further solidified AWSAD’s global recognition and its vital role in supporting women at risk. Maria’s contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Women of Excellence Award from the AWiB in 2015. Today, she serves as the Board Chairperson of the Ethiopia Network of Women Shelters (ENWS) and represents AWSAD Ethiopia within the network. Through her leadership and unwavering dedication, Maria continues to be a transformative figure in the fight for women’s rights in Ethiopia, inspiring countless others to join her in creating a more just and equitable society.
Netsanet Lakew
Board Vice Chairperson
Netsanet Lakew is the Executive Director of the Organization for Prevention, Rehabilitation and Integration of Female Street Children (OPRIFS) in Ethiopia. She brings extensive experience in program leadership, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement, with a strong track record in empowering youth, women, and vulnerable children. Before joining OPRIFS, she served as a Project and Program Director, leading community development initiatives and capacity-building programs. Netsanet is dedicated to advancing child protection, strengthening partnerships, and driving sustainable social impact for more than 13 years.
Rahel Ambaye
Board Member
Rahel Ambaye serves as the Executive Director of the Mother and Children Rehabilitation Center (MCRC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. With over ten years of dedicated service, she has been instrumental in advancing MCRC's mission to empower survivors of violence and vulnerable women and children through a wide range of comprehensive services: shelter, rehabilitation, legal education, and skills development programs.
Under Rahel’s leadership, MCRC has emphasized a holistic approach to rehabilitation and reintegration, focusing on addressing the diverse needs of those it serves. As a lifelong learner and resilient advocate, she is passionately committed to championing women's and children's rights, consistently seizing opportunities to combat violations against these groups.
Her impactful novella, "The Price for the Pass," which explores the critical issue of gender-based violence in schools, was honored with the second position in the grand Burt Award for African Young Adult Literature, Ethiopia. Recognizing the significant role that art, music, and therapy play in managing trauma and enhancing the healing process, Rahel actively promotes creative expression as a vital tool in rehabilitation efforts.
Her deep commitment to transforming lives through education and opportunity is evident in her celebration of each child's and woman's success, which she views as essential steps toward lasting social change. She firmly believes that resilience, inclusion, and empowerment are the foundations of sustainable community development.
Hirut Yibabe
Board Member
Hirut Yibabe is a dedicated Ethiopian humanitarian, gender advocate, and Co-Founder of the Good Samaritan Association (GSA) — a leading organization providing shelter, rehabilitation, and empowerment services to women and girls who are survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), human trafficking, and unsafe migration. With a lifelong passion for advancing women’s rights, Hirut began her activism soon after graduating from university, during the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ethiopia. At a time when stigma and silence surrounded the issue, she stood among the first voices advocating for women’s access to medical, financial, and psychological support. Her commitment to breaking barriers and amplifying the voices of marginalized women laid the foundation for her life’s work. In 2005, Hirut co-founded the Good Samaritan Association alongside other like-minded women leaders. Under her leadership, GSA has become a safe haven for trafficked girls, migrant domestic workers, and survivors of GBV. The shelter offers psychological counselling, medical care, life and business skills training, and startup capital to help survivors rebuild their lives with dignity and independence. GSA’s programs prioritize women and girls who have endured deep physical and emotional trauma, including those affected by unwanted pregnancies and mental health challenges. Hirut’s advocacy is rooted in empathy and justice. She believes that gender equality is a human right, essential for sustainable development and inclusive progress. Her message is clear: “Everyone should be part of the solution by stepping into the victims’ shoes and feeling their agony.” She calls on young people to stay informed, resist unsafe migration, and engage in shaping policies that create equitable opportunities. Hirut also emphasizes the importance of men’s involvement in combating GBV and trafficking — urging them to stand as allies and advocates rather than perpetrators. For Hirut, women’s rights are not optional; they are the foundation of human progress: “There is no development without empowering and acknowledging women’s rights.” Today, as the Executive Director of Good Samaritan Association and a long-standing UN Women implementing partner, Hirut continues to champion the rights and resilience of women and girls in Ethiopia — ensuring that every survivor has the chance to heal, thrive, and lead.
Mekides Zelelaw
Board Member
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Kidist Chernet
Board Member
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Dr. Abera Adeba Jotte
Board Member
Dr. Abera Adeba Jotte is Executive Director, AGAR Ethiopia Charitable Society Director General, UNIPGC Africa Apostle Ambassador Dr. Abera Adeba Jotte is a distinguished humanitarian, peace ambassador, and transformational leader devoted to advancing human dignity, equality, and development. His life of service began at the age of five in rural Kotobo, Ethiopia, when an act of compassion — offering his own shirt to a shivering friend — ignited a lifelong mission to uplift the vulnerable and heal communities. As Executive Director of AGAR Ethiopia Charitable Society, Dr. Abera has led groundbreaking initiatives addressing gender-based violence, safe migration, livelihood creation, and social reintegration. Under his leadership, AGAR Ethiopia has rehabilitated and empowered over 55,000 survivors, educated 45 million people on safe migration, and created more than 25,000 jobs, significantly contributing to Ethiopia’s social and economic development. With over four decades of experience, Dr. Abera has managed and mobilized more than US$150 million in programs across public health, mental health, and humanitarian response — reaching millions with life-changing impact. His commitment to peace-building and leadership excellence extends across Africa through his role as Director General of UNIPGC Africa, fostering dialogue, stability, and shared prosperity. Dr. Abera holds a Doctorate in Leadership and Management, multiple master’s degrees, and several honorary doctorates. He is a UN Ambassador of Peace, Distinguished Fellow (DFAIPA, FAIPA), and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Peace and Governance (FCIPG). His global honors — including the Lee Kuan Yew and Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Medals — celebrate his enduring legacy as a compassionate and visionary leader. Dr. Abera life stands as a testament to how faith, empathy, and strategic leadership can transform lives and shape a more just and peaceful world.