A Student’s Journey to the Space Generation Congress 2019 & International Astronautical Congress 2019
My Journey to the Space Generation Congress 2019 & International Astronautical Congress 2019
by Mr. Zimichael Damtew Gebeyehu
I have always aspired to achieve big things in my endeavor and the World Organization for Sustainability Leadership (WOSL) has been supporting me to make great things possible. One of the major lesson that WOSL thought me is to be a global citizen and being “the change agent”. In October 2019, I got a chance to participate at the Space Generation Congress (SGC) 2019 at Lockheed Martin Global Vision Center (GVC) in Crystal City, Virginia. I was the only delegate representing my country at this global space industry conference. Without WOSL’s financial support I would not been able to participate at this conference. The Space Generation Congress is a prestigious conference organized by the Space Generation Advisory Council for students and young professionals in the space industry.

In the conference, I met engineers, analysts, and scientists in the space arena from all around the world. I was part of working group 1 sponsored by German Aerospace Center (DLR), which was about post ISS activities in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). We assed the uses of LEO in the coming decades and put forth recommendations for the UN, SGAC, & space industries. It was really a great experience for me to meet people from all around the world who share my strong passion for space exploration and unite our thoughts to push humanity’s exploration of space. In this 3-day event, we had working group discussions and also keynote speakers from the space industry. At the last day of the conference, we had a final presentation about our recommendation from our working group. I was really honored to be part of the Space Generation Congress Gala Dinner at the Air & Space Museum in Washington DC. That night, I met high stakeholders, engineers, professors, and young professionals in the space industry. After the conference, I was also a delegate for NASA’s Space Exploration Workshop at Udvar Hazy Air & Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia. In the workshop, we had different presentations from NASA’s Satellite Communication & Navigation Office about the upcoming lunar and Martian missions in relation to communication. After that we were grouped into three different astronaut crews in order to simulate a Martian mission, and we were given different scenarios regarding to communication. It was an exciting workshop as I had a chance to think like an astronaut and make decisions on the simulated mission.

After SGC 2019, I got a chance to participate at the International Astronautical Congress 2019 at Walter E. Convention center in Washington DC, which is organized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), International Astronautical Federation, and many many more companies and national space agencies. I met with engineers, CEOs, scientists from all around the globe in the space industry. That is where I met NASA’s former administrator Dr. Charles Bolden, NASA’s former deputy administrator Dr. Dava Newman, NASA’s first black American woman astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison and other influential persons.

The IAC is a five-day event with plenary discussions, technical presentations, keynote speeches, and exhibitions from different agencies & companies in the space industry. At the IAC, I got the opportunity to know more about the upcoming manned space exploration missions form all around the world. I have also met the next generation space leaders from different parts of the world. I really want to thank WOSL for supporting me to attend these two conferences and satisfy my passion for space exploration and rocketry.

- Published in Events
Soka University of America – Celebration a Vision of Peace, 15th Annual Peace Gala Event
Ms Lynne Chang, Chairman of the Board and her colleague, partner, and best friend Mr Chris Chen wish to express their thanks and many years of moral and financial support developing SOKA as a world class institution and culminating in the joint collaboration between SOKA and CGU

During this 15th Annual Peace Gala Celebration, Soka has been formally announced the degree expanding partnership, between SOKA and CGU which will provide an accelerated pathway for students matriculating through both schools BA/MA programs.

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WOSL Announce Integration Partnership streamlining capacity building and candidate selection for the “UN Junior Ambassadors for Sustainable Development” Program in China Mainland
WOSL and today announced a strategic partnership with Wosou (Shanghai) Education Technology Co., Ltd. (沃搜(上海)教育科技有限公司) that will streamline the candidate selection process and in country training for high school and university
Chinese students participating in the “UN Junior Ambassadors for Sustainable Development“ Program. This relationship will not only speed up the identification and acquisition of key “talent” but also provide WOSL a Shang Hai based Headquarters for all institutional operations including, coordination of all country-wide recruitment, in-person education and training, and monitoring and oversight for all supporting activities.
At a local press briefing, WOSL’s Executive Director Dr. Paul C Bogaardt was quoted saying, “By aligning our vision and investing our resources in each other, WOSL and are making a bold and supportive statement to the United Nations and the
leadership of our home countries, USA and China, that we are committed to 2030 goals across ethnic, cultural, and national identities. As one planet and one family this is not just necessary; This is imperative.”
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals entail 17 goals, 169 targets and 232 indicators agreed upon by more than 193 member nations around the globe. With a deadline set for the year 2030, the SDGs represent the intersection of Environmental Responsibility, Economic Development, and Social Progress. WOSL, a US based non-profit institution is a United Nations Delivery Partner responsible for delivery and implementation of the “UN Junior Ambassadors for Sustainable Development and SE4All” program. Through international capacity building and technology transfer engagements, WOSL prepares today’s youth to become tomorrow’s leaders.
Beautiful Mind and Taking Action to contribute in the local communities-Ethiopia By 2018 Un Junior Ambassador ” Mr. Zimichael Damtew Gebeyehu”
“The Journey: from strong passion to future space leadership”
by Mr. Zimichael Damtew Gebeyehu
“Be the change agents”, a quote from my instructors at the UN Junior Ambassador 2018 summer program, guides my endeavors to take initiatives and help others to reach a common good. When I was ten years old, watching the Apollo 11 documentary ignited a well-fortified passion for space travel and rockets. That moment gave me the ultimate purpose to contribute to mankind’s efforts to explore outer space by advancing rocket technology.

To upheld this passion, I started to sketch my own spacecraft designs and engines. I was fifth grader when my general science teacher advised me to join the elite scientific society: The Ethiopian Space Science Society, a community which fostered my passion for space travel. On the first day I joined, the society gave me the chance to present my own design of a “Spy UFO spacecraft”, which at that time I was engrossed with ufology. I was really obsessed with new technologies and speculations about UFO’s flight systems. I even had a “UFO” as a nick at 5thgrade due the fact that I presented my own articles about UFO’s at class presentation and morning sessions. My presentation at the 5th General Assembly of the Ethiopian Space Science Society opened a new window for my space science career to grow. From that day, I am a prominent member of the Ethiopian Space Science Society and presented more than 13 researches in aerospace engineering and propulsion for the past 9 years. My reputation and involvement on community outreach activities at the society led me to win The Youth Leadership Award, which is organized by the World Organization for Sustainable Development (WOSL) in collaboration with the Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS). The award enabled me to be part of an intensive research summer program at Claremont Graduate University in CA, USA as UN Junior Ambassador for Sustainable Development. The program changed my whole career to professional level. With multidisciplinary lectures focusing on implementing UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), I got the opportunity to work on goal #9: Innovation, Industry, and Infrastructure. The independence nature of the program enabled me to connect the SDGs to space exploration and elimination of space debris in the end.

After the summer program, I continued my work in spreading the voice of the SDGs and the importance of space science in fulfilling those goals. Through this leadership program and my success at the Ethiopian Space Science Society, I was honored to be the Youth Space Ambassador, promoting and creating awareness about the uses of space science in my country. In conjunction with the responsibilities as a UN Junior Ambassador for Sustainable Development, I have been giving public lectures about my research on SDGs and the importance of space exploration to achieve those goals. I have travelled to universities outside the capital, Addis Ababa, and presented research experience on the SDGs and the significance of space exploration to students in the countryside. The UN Junior Ambassador program taught me teamwork and success can be easily achieved through collaboration and partnership. I used this principle to engage the youth in space activities, because I believe that the overall contribution of the youth in space science is crucial to support our space program. I have been able to bring the leadership skills I got form UN Junior Ambassador Program to my internship at ESSS. Overall, the UN Junior Ambassador program is a life changing experience that widened the glasses I used to view the world, and it gave me hope and fortitude to strive and solve global problem. After all, we, the youth are the change agents and future leaders that the world has been waiting for.

Event: White Rock Ranch Horse Rescue Special Show and Talk

White Rock Ranch Horse Rescue Special Show and Talk at Pioneertown next Saturday. Come and check out what rescues horse can do and learn more about horse adoption. Enjoy food, Live Entertainment, WTT interactive performance and more!
- Published in Events, White Rock Horse Rescue
Interview: Parents Action to Support
2018 UN Junior Ambassador for SDGs/SE4ALL Commitments in Action
2018 UN Junior Ambassador Christmas Party
2018 UN Junior Ambassador Presentation on Media Press
Ethiopia’s Incredible Economic Rise
Dan Kopf of Good News report the story behind Ethiopia’s incredible economic development. The story covers the economic progress since 2000, when Ethiopia was the 3rd poorest country in the world, how the country could become the “New China” with it’s amazing 10.8% average annual economic growth between 2004 and 2014.
- Published in News