Global
Interview conducted by Daria Terenzi – Amref
Bitania Lulu Berhanu, a 31-year-old Ethiopian, is an African leader actively engaged in processes of change and development across the continent.
Her commitment has earned her international recognition, including the award for Female Personality of the Year at the Africa Youth Awards in 2015 and a place among the 100 Most Influential Young Africans in 2016.
From 2019 to 2021, she served as Chair of the Youth Advisory Parliament of Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia. She is currently Director of Youth Programming at Amref Global Headquarters. Among the figures who inspire her is Mae Jemison, the American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut.
Today, Jemison’s story is more relevant than ever. In the spring of 1996, she filed a complaint against a Texas police officer, accusing him of police brutality during a police check that resulted in her arrest.
Despite the differences in context, Jemison’s experience reflects a broader reality that continues to affect Black communities in the United States. The evidence of the impact of police brutality on Black people remains overwhelming. For Bitania, these struggles resonate with the wider challenges faced by young people and women around the world.
“Young people in Africa represent 70% of the population. For this reason, the voices of young people cannot be ignored — yet this is often the case. Added to this problem is that of gender inequality. I fight for young people and women to be represented and heard as they deserve, so that they can actively contribute to the development of the African continent and become agents of change.
As a young African woman, it has not been easy to make my voice heard and to get where I am today, but I have always believed in myself and persevered. I am glad I did, and I am happy to see positive changes taking place across the continent.
Today, in Rwanda, for example, there are women representatives at every administrative and governmental level, and many countries have introduced laws dedicated to youth representation, such as voting rights for young people.
I believe it is essential to involve young people in decision-making platforms. It is not possible to address issues such as development and peace processes without recognising the fundamental role of young people and involving them.”
“I was a determined child. In my own small way, I began activism within my community at a young age. I always knew I wanted to “change the world”, but the moment I consciously told myself that I wanted to become an agent of change was during my university years. I studied electronic engineering and computer science at Addis Ababa University. The lack of youth representation and leadership became apparent to me during that period of my life, and it gave me the opportunity to realise my goals. I therefore continued my studies, undertaking a Master’s degree in human and economic development in Africa, and then obtained a diploma in leadership, training for trainers and design thinking, which is an approach to innovation based on the ability to solve complex problems using creative vision and management. During my academic years, I contributed to the creation of numerous youth-led associations, such as the Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa, and to the organisation of national and international training courses, workshops and events”.