Voices of Resilience: Researchers Rebuilding Hope in Tigray
Part I: Dr. Tewelde Gebre - Mapping Hunger, Cultivating Solutions
Hello, my good human. I am Lefteris and in this newsletter, I try to give a platform to academics who don’t get as many chances to showcase their work as I believe they should. I try to understand their lives, their work and what affects their everyday routine. If that sounds like something you'd be interested feel free to subscribe.
It has been a very conscious effort on my part in 2024 to stop randomly consuming news and stories as they appear on my social media feed. Algorithms are designed to maximize engagement (or maximize the engagement of the owner of the site…) and, for better or worse, in many parts of the world, news cycles are often dominated by US politics, overshadowing important stories elsewhere. My French is improving, so in discussions with new people I meet here, I remember or learn of different websites and magazines that share news. It’s through this process that I arrived at this great documentary on the Tigray Humanitarian Crisis at ARTE.
The life of a Palestinian Researcher - Part 1: The Thirst for Knowledge
Hello, my good human. I am Lefteris and in this newsletter, I try to give a platform to academics who don’t get as many chances to showcase their work as I believe they should. I try to understand their lives, their work and what affects their everyday routine. If that sounds like something you'd be interested feel free to subscribe.
As with every conflict, explaining it in simple terms is not a simple task, and it’s not something I will do in these articles. But the Tigray war lasted for 2 years, from November 2020 to November 2022. I am not sure that we would have heard more about it if it weren’t for the global pandemic, but despite its significance, the Tigray war didn’t enter my radar until quite late in 2022. After the interviews I had with the Palestinian researchers, I wanted to share first-hand accounts of those navigating life amidst these conflicts, bringing their voices to light beyond the headlines. It is often very easy to forget that behind these conflicts, there are people who had very little choice in their involvement.
Hence, when a paper entitled “A comprehensive analysis of food insecurity in the drought–prone rural areas of Tigray” appeared on my feed I felt compelled to contact the author, and I was pleased to have a very interesting discussion with Tewelde Gebre who shared his experience with me.
Part I: Tewelde Gebre - Mapping Hunger, Cultivating Solutions
Tewelde Gebre is an assistant professor at Mekelle University, Institute of Environment, Gender and Development Studies. Since he was the first person I talked to from Ethiopia, I had a lot to learn about the education system, the work that he is doing and the impact the war has had on him and his work.
The Changing Face of Education
Starting with the general academic overview of Ethiopia and Tigray more specifically, the numbers tell a stark story. Five years ago, 60-70% of students in Tigray passed their university entrance exams. Today, that number has plummeted to 4%. Mekelle University, once bustling with 8-9 thousand new students annually, now welcomes only 500-600. But these aren't just statistics for Tewelde—they represent a fundamental shift in the educational landscape he's dedicated his life to serving.
"We were totally hopeless," he reflects, his voice carrying the weight of recent history. "And now we managed to come back to work, and I have managed to publish two articles." This simple statement masks years of determination and resilience.
A Scholar's Journey Through War
For nine years, Tewelde has been more than just an assistant professor at Mekelle University. His work spans environmental studies, climate change, food security, and rural development. With eight journal articles, one book, a conference paper, and a training manual to his name, his academic credentials are impressive. But it's his 2019 paper, "The mutual benefits of promoting rural-urban interdependence through linked ecosystem services"—cited nearly 200 times—that reveals his true passion: bridging the gap between urban and rural development.
"I can say I am a rural activist here in Ethiopia," he states with quiet pride. In a country where over 80% of the population lives in rural areas, this isn't just academic interest—it's a calling.
The Rural-Urban Divide: A Complex Web
Tewelde's research reveals a critical imbalance: while rural areas provide essential resources for urban development, they often receive little in return. His work identifies four crucial areas of interconnection:
Provisioning Services: Raw materials, food, and water flow from rural to urban areas, but knowledge and modern technologies should flow back.
Regulating Services: While rural areas provide clean air, urban areas must contribute through reforestation and protection from deforestation.
Cultural Services: Rural areas offer invaluable cultural ecosystem services—recreation, spiritual sustenance, ecotourism—yet face threats from urbanization.
Supporting Services: The fundamental processes that maintain ecosystem productivity require careful balance between urban development and rural preservation.
When Research Meets Reality: The Food Security Crisis
I found the work that Tewelde is doing very interesting and also quite readily applicable, if there is a will from the decision makers. But theory and practice often collide in unexpected ways. I mentioned that to Tewelde, he smiled and told me "No one is interested in academic publications," Tewelde observes with a hint of frustration. Politicians, he notes, tend to rely on experience rather than research findings—especially in the social sciences.
His latest work on food insecurity in Tigray's drought-prone rural areas stems from a devastating history. In 1985 alone, nearly one million people died from hunger[source]—a statistic that still sends shockwaves through the community.
"The Tigray region has been affected by drought-driven insecurity. It is a recurring effect," he explains. While progress has been made—the number of food-secure rural districts increased from 16 to 33 in 2019—the current situation remains dire. In the newly restructured Tigray region, only one rural district out of 56 is food secure. Furthermore, data shows that 81% of the smallholder households lost their crop during the war.
The Human Cost of Research
Conducting research in such conditions carries an emotional burden few can comprehend. To figure out the number of people that live under these conditions, Tewelde needed to go to the rural areas and conduct interviews with them. "It's very challenging to speak with people who are suffering because of a lack of food," Tewelde admits. "Because you can't do anything for them. We are civil servants, and there is only a limited number of things we can do."
The most vulnerable—elders, disabled individuals, children, and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers—bear the heaviest burden. "You can't sleep well after these interviews. You can't have your lunch after these interviews," he shares. Yet, he persists, knowing that understanding the problem is the first step toward solving it.
Experiencing war
During the war, Tewelde was a student. His plan was to finish his research and after that he was in contact with International Development Research Cetner (IDRC) to develop a joint proposal to help disabled women integrate and to economically empower them. Unfortunately, communication stopped after the war. I expressed my condolences to him since this sounded like a project he was very passionate about. He smiled and said it’s ok, “To survive this situation is a blessing by itself.” During the war he was hit by a drone and his right eye is affected and can’t see.
Post-War Challenges: A University in Recovery
The war's impact on academic life has been profound. Thirty academic staff members left the region during the conflict, including many prominent professors. Mekelle University, once ranked second in Ethiopia, has fallen to fourth or fifth place. In Tewelde's department, only three academic staff remain.
Despite these challenges, Tewelde chose to stay. Very naively, I asked if he had the chance to leave and if he wanted to leave to search for better luck elsewhere, he politely told me he wants to stay. When offered opportunities abroad, including an invitation to Norway, he declined. "My priority is to finish my PhD and help my students," he explains. "If I leave even for a week, no one will handle that course, no one will advise my students."
A Vision for the Future
Today, Tewelde divides his time between teaching, research advising, and community service. He helps local civil servants formulate proposals and write grant applications, and serves on a commission for Tigray's restoration and reconstruction.
His work with students carries special meaning. Every assignment is designed to encourage them to identify and solve community problems. "The last three or four years, this conversation was collapsed," he recalls. "This time we are communicating to ensure who survived and who lost their life."
The Bridge to Understanding
As our conversation with Tewelde draws to a close, one question lingers: What drives a researcher to persist in the face of such overwhelming challenges? The answer, perhaps, lies not just in academic dedication but in a deeper understanding of human resilience and cultural preservation.
This brings us to another remarkable story—that of Dr. Tesfaye, a literature professor who uses words as his weapon of choice in rebuilding a community torn apart by conflict. Through his lens, we'll discover how cultural scholarship becomes an act of resistance and hope.
Even in Tigray, research transcends academic boundaries. It becomes a testament to human resilience, a bridge between individual struggles and collective healing, and ultimately, a path toward understanding and renewal.
Continue reading to discover how literature becomes an instrument of hope and resistance in the second part of our journey through Tigray's academic landscape.
I am new to this platform and have no idea why I chose to click on this article as it’s not my typical selection. I am so glad I did! I’m grateful to have read it and watched the videos, and have learned much. Thank you for sharing.