Ethiopic Studies Research Chair Proposed at the University of Toronto
An Ethiopian research chair for Ethiopic studies, an initiative started by University of Toronto’s Michael Gervers, received a warm reception by hundreds of Ethiopian-Canadians and friends of Ethiopians at a public forum on Saturday.
In attendance were, hundreds of people from the Ethiopian Diaspora community, civic leaders, scholars and faith leaders and friends of Ethiopian-Canadians.
Professor Gervais, who is in Ethiopia currently, had challenged the Ethiopian-Canadian community to help him raise $50,000 by the end of the year, promising to match the effort. Speakers from Bikila Award’s Tessema Mulugeta, Professor Getachew Haile, an expert on Ge’ez, Alpha Abebe, a PHD candidate at Oxford University reflected on why such a program is important.
At the end, $8000 of the total $50,000 was raised. The forum was told, the effort will continue to the next year, even if the target is not met this year.
(with contributions from Aman G.)
