Getahun Fikadu has been a Lelt scholar since he was in grade school. His journey has been anything but easy. Raised by a resilient single mother in an impoverished Ethiopian neighborhood, he often lacked basic necessities like food and clean water. Living in a small, two-room rental without electricity, the prospect of becoming a computer programmer seemed unimaginable. Yet, last month, he defied the odds — graduating with distinction from St. Mary’s University, one of Ethiopia’s top private institutions, with a degree in Computer Science.
Throughout his four years in college, Getahun seized opportunities that shaped his path in programming. In 2023, he competed in the Generative AI for Africa Hackathon, hosted by A2SV, where he developed a legal assistance AI tool based on Ethiopian laws — advancing to the semifinals. “This AI project allowed me to dive deep into artificial intelligence and machine learning while honing essential skills in communication, collaboration, teamwork, and project management,” he said. “It was my greatest achievement to date.”
Getahun also gained hands-on experience through multiple internships. He spent six months at iCog Labs, an Ethiopian company specializing in AI and machine learning, working on research and development. Additionally, he earned a Machine Learning Specialization Certificate from Coursera, reinforcing his expertise in emerging technologies.
Further expanding his experience, Getahun secured a paid global internship with the American company Maison Digital. There, he contributed to a re-platforming project focused on redesigning and migrating an existing website, gaining valuable industry exposure on an international scale.
Currently, Getahun is sharing his expertise by teaching computer programming and coding to Lelt Foundation students at our VoLo Technology Lab. As he begins applying to technology-based companies in Addis Ababa, he looks forward to expanding his career opportunities. Congratulations, Getahun!
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