About Us – Roots & Wings

If you didn’t know, Here’s a bit about us.

Roots and Wings is a woman -led local civil society organization established in February 5 2020 License Number 4749 in Ethiopia. The organization envisioned to serve millions of people to have basic human rights such as equal access to quality learning/ education, quality health care and social services, equal job opportunities and protection from sexual harassment and assault.

Our transformative approach to building vibrant communities puts empowerment of children and women at the center. The program designed by the organization aims to support citizens harness their potential and use their energies to transform themselves and the society at large.

The organization is filled with a visionary and interdisciplinary team (Education, Health, Human rights, Social work, Agriculture) who believed that serving as human rights advocate is about more than just participating in a march and involves being a staunch ally by working for real, positive change in their spheres of influence.

Vision

We envision a world where diverse individuals and institutions unite to foster strong communities filled with hope, joy, and harmony. Most central to this vision is the material and moral advancement of communities which is an initiative of infinite complexity and scale, one that will demand centuries of effort by humankind to bring to culmination.

Values

Service: Service to humankind is the cornerstone on which Roots and Wings is built upon

Opportunity: We strive to provide opportunity that would open up doors for underserved communities.

Co-creation: Collective creativity and collaboration bring better results

Faith: A belief that a greater power brings humanity together

Empowerment: With empowerment, individuals and communities can act on their own authority and unlock their potential

Gender Equality: We Endeavour to put girls and women at the center of our community building programs

Integrity: Truthfulness, Uprightness, and Integrity are not only valued but are lived by every member of our organization

Our Co-Founders

Sileshi Yitbarek (PhD)

Co-Founder

Sileshi Yitbarek (PhD), is a cofounder and strategic advisor of Roots and Wings Elixir. He is keen to explore and contribute to the wholistic community development through the complementary roles that the three protagonists: the individual, the community, and the institution play in the advancement of society/civilization. He is the founder and CEO of ELIXIR Research and Consultancy PLC., one of the renowned consulting firms in Ethiopia.

Sileshi Yitbarek (PhD)

Co-Founder & Senior Advisor

Serkalem Girma (PhD)

Co-Founder

Serkalem Girma (PhD), is a Cofounder and Board chair of Roots and Wings Elixir. She is ardently concerned with the needs of the society she lives in. she is passionate about finding unifying and constructive approaches to advancing thoughts and actions in a range of areas vital to social progress. Prior to join Roots and Wings she worked in Ethiopia health and development sector for two decades.