ABOUT ME My Name My name is Martha Kumsa or Kuwee Kumsaa. Kuwee is the name my grandmother gave me at my birth ritual. Martha is my name of christening. To my family, relatives, friends and many Oromos I am known by Kuwee. Officially, I am known by Martha. Many of my relatives and friends know me by both names. Brief Biography I am an Oromo born and raised in Ethiopia. I was a young journalist working as both broadcasting Oromo radio program producer at Radio Voice of the Gospel (RVOG) and Women's Column editor for the Oromo weekly newspaper, Bariisaa, in the Ministry of Information and National Guidance when I was sent to jail by the then military regime of Ethiopia in early 1980. I was released from prison in late 1989, fled the country because of continued repression, and came to Canada as a refugee resettled under the government's Women at Risk Program. My Social Work Training Bachelor
of Social Work (BSW), York University,
Master
of Social Work (MSW), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
My Experience in Community Work My experience in community work goes back to my young school girl days in high school and later on in university student when I was a member of self-appointed groups involved in small scale organizing of various student bodies for various purposes. In my double role as a journalist and activist from mid to late 70s, I was also involved in what I would call community work among peasant and working women risen up for social action. As a prisoner of conscience in the Ethiopian Central Prison, I was involved in what I would call community work, actively participating in the prison school, literacy groups, and inmate cooperative service committees. In
Toronto, Canada, I have been involved in what I would call community work
with various Immigrant and refugee groups.
My Role in This Web Site In the development of this web site, my role will be that of a community worker. That is, I will facilitate the creation of an equitable space of participation and interaction. The rest will be a collective and participatory project. Please do participate in our collective project. Please
contact me at
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