History of ESAI

In the summer of 1999, a student named Wubeshet Mehari at Marymount University founded the Ethiopian Student Association International (ESAI). He began his mission by contacting and conversing with different Ethiopian Student Associations/Unions in the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas and shared his idea of building a bridge between different groups in order to find strength through united goals. His mission included opening communication channels, creating grounded connections, and carrying out joint projects in order to implement a strong network of Ethiopian students.

By September, 1999, Wubeshet and his brother, Kiber, had created a web site and a listserv for the new organization. In the following months, Wubeshet was joined by Aida Muluneh, Yared Mussie and representatives of most of the ESA’s in the D.C. area to promote ESAI. By the end of the following year, ESAI had over 2000 registered members.

Some of the other leaders who helped promote ESAI were Salem T. Gugsa, Nolawi Tadesse, Mekdem Wondafrash, Meklit Berhan, Nahom Beyene, Konjit Zenas, Lilly Assefa, Hiruy Abdu, Hilena Hailu, Robel Kassa, Befekadu Ayenew.