It was wonderful to spend time in Japan with one of our star students, Selam. She studied at the Nicolas Robinson School until the end of grade 12, then she spent 2 years at African Leadership Academy. Now in her final year at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, we hope she can continue her interest in International relations and peace studies as she pursues a masters degree. She is still waiting to hear about her next steps, but wherever she studies, she will make a great contribution to the world. Producing young talent like Selam from the humblest of backgrounds is what motivates us to work for the future for the talented yet underfunded and undervalued young people of Africa and Ethiopia, especially in Mekele.