Who we are & how it all began

Founders & spouses Yohannes and Cara Yadagne met in Canada at University while both playing for the varsity soccer teams. Long before they got married, they each had a strong desire and vision to share peace and hope in East Africa and the Middle-East. While in this region of the world, they witnessed the need for peace, equality, and social justice. After two years of marriage and having their first daughter, they moved to Ethiopia. They now have four daughters and continue to be invited into some of the most difficult areas of the region to provide peace/conflict resolution and develop leaders who go on to positively transform their communities.

Yohannes Yadagne

Co-FOUNDER

Yohannes was born and raised in Ethiopia, then immigrated to Canada as a teenager. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, is a licensed soccer coach and a Master’s Degree in Leadership. Furthermore, he is certified by CCL’s Leadership Beyond Boundaries initiative for the facilitation of Leadership and Coaching Essentials and is a certified Master Trainer for CCL’s ‘Lead for Success’ program. Yohannes is also certified as Life Coach, Speaker, Teacher by John Maxwell- labeled the number one leadership expert in the world.

Since returning to Ethiopia, the main focus of his work is on leadership development that results in deep behaviour change, and peace/conflict resolution training to stop war and armed conflict. He is a teacher and facilitator for the Kurumbuka Leadership Master’s Certification Program (qualified and partnered with Trinity Western University in Canada) that selects and trains African leaders from Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia. Additionally, he was selected as one of ten contributors by the African Union in the formation of a ‘youth leadership manual’ which will be disseminated in all 55 countries across Africa.

Cara Yadagne

Co-FOUNDER

Cara was born and raised in Canada, but resided in both the Philippines & the Middle East, & has now lived in Ethiopia for over a decade. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree, majoring as an ESL teacher and a Master’s Degree in International Relations. She is passionate about social justice issues; advocating for women’s equality through peace/conflict resolution and leadership education so that they can positively change their families and communities. She and Yohannes have four young daughters who often accompany them while they travel and train.

We support/employ another 27 people financially whom we have mentored or trained (ToT), who now reach more unreached areas of Ethiopia and the region, and also train in conflict resolution.