Ethiopia Education Initiatives

From assessing individuals at spare office desks to assessing large groups on campus: We have come a long way since 2020!

At HMA we are always responding to the needs of today while also planning for tomorrow. A key focus right now is admissions for September 2026, as we recruit, assess, and meet prospective students.

Interest has been extraordinary. We’ve received more than 1,500 applications so far—compared to 500 at this time last year and 950 total by the close of admissions in June 2025. Over 300 applicants have already been assessed through testing in Debre Birhan, Addis, Bahr Dar, and Hawassa. Results are strong, and interviews are now underway and will continue in the months ahead.

We’re thrilled by both the volume and diversity of applicants, reflecting Haile-Manas Academy’s growing reputation for academic excellence and community. We look forward to enrolling 90 Grade 9 students, plus up to 10 in Grade 10 and 5 in Grade 11, bringing the higher grades closer to full capacity of 100 students per grade. We have come along way from 2020, when due to the pandemic and war in the north we intentionally kept our first class small, at just 33 students.

If you know a student who would thrive at HMA, please encourage them to apply soon. We will close admissions once enrollment capacity is reached—likely earlier than usual given the demand.

Thank you for making it possible to recruit exceptional students and provide financial assistance to those who need it most. We are deeply grateful for your support!

It's almost 2026—did you remember Haile Manas Academy in your end-of-year giving?

If you are considering a good philanthropic investment as the year comes to an end, please consider supporting financial aid at Haile-Manas Academy.

Every dollar given funds a world-class education for talented students who are key to a brighter future for Ethiopia.

Thank you for your support! Please click below to donate.

Thank you for all you have done to support HMA! Please click below to donate.

https://ethiopiaeducationinitiatives-bloom.kindful.com/

When student drive meets the right support…incredible things happen

You get students like Nathan, who scored a perfect 5 on the AP Calculus exam—without taking a calculus class. How did he do it? In his words:

[It] started with a straight-shooting lunch-time conversation with [our college counselor]. He made it clear the test was hard…Nevertheless, I decided to commit. He helped me register, [our academic coordinator] handed me a graphing calculator, and I dove into Khan Academy lessons while practicing calculator skills with my math teacher. Balancing everything was rough: Math Olympiad, the June SAT, and finals all hit at once, so keeping AP Calc as a priority wasn’t easy...The last two weeks were all revision: formulas, concepts, and tightening anything that felt shaky. The day before the test, I pushed through four hours of a seven-hour [free-response questions] walkthrough...I woke up early the next day, prayed, ate breakfast, and walked, through my gojo mates’ good luck wishes, to the exam room.”

At HMA, Nathan’s drive is met with teachers who provide opportunities, counselors who provide guidance, and an entire community that believes in his potential.

Thank you for the giving that makes such outcomes possible!

Haile Manas Academy is !

HMA is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Summer Programming to design, develop and implement quality summer programming at HMA’s boarding school facilities. Under the general supervision of HMA school leadership, the Director of Summer Programming will lead all aspects of researching, designing, marketing and implementing high-quality summer programming, with the goal of piloting an inaugural two to four week program in the summer of 2026, for students who may come from within and/or outside Ethiopia.

To learn more, visit

Work at Haile-Manas Academy — Haile-Manas Academy Haile-Manas Academy is hiring! HMA seeks an experienced, mission-driven and dynamic Director of College and Career Counseling Office to design and implement a comprehensive post-secondary plan for HMA students and their families.

If you are considering a good philanthropic investment as the year comes to an end, please consider supporting financial aid at Haile-Manas Academy. Every dollar we raise will be put towards delivering a world-class education for talented students who will light a brilliant future for Ethiopia.

Thank you for all you have done to support HMA! Please click the link to donate: https://ethiopiaeducationinitiatives-bloom.kindful.com/

Thank you VOA Amharic for capturing moments from this year's African Impact Awards!

We were honored that EEI's Co-Founder and Executive Director Rebecca Haile was of the five nominees for this year's African Impact Awards! The African Impact Award ceremony is an annual celebration of the achievements of Americans and Africans who contribute to the well-being of people of African origin both in the USA and in Africa. Congratulations to fellow honorees: singer Aster Aweke, journalist Meaza Biru, and long-distance runners Tigist Assefa and Gudaf Tsegaye!

ኢትዮጵያውያን ታዋቂ እንስቶች የከበሩበት ምሽት በስፖርት ስነ ጥበብና ስራ ፈጠራ ዘርፎች በሙያቸው ማህበረሰብን የጠቀሙ አፍሪካውያንን የሚሸልመው የዘንድሮው የአፍሪካ ተጽዕኖ ፈጣሪዎች ሽልማት ስነ ስርዓት በሜሪላንድ ተካሂዷል:: ታ.....

We are excited to share that our Co-Founder and Executive Director Rebecca Haile is one of the five nominees for this year's African Impact Awards! The African Impact Award ceremony, which will take place in Maryland on October 13th, is an annual celebration of the achievements of Americans and Africans who contribute to the well-being of people of African origin both in the USA and in Africa.

Thank you to the Awards Committee for this honor and congratulations to fellow honorees: singer Aster Aweke, journalist Meaza Biru, and current women's marathon and 5,000m world record holders Tigst Assefa and Gudaf Tsegaye!

Thank you to all of our supporters! Your generosity allowed HMA to provide them with a world-class education, opportunities for personal growth, financial assistance, mentoring and so much more. Because of you, our graduates are well prepared for this exciting next chapter. THANK YOU!

Thank you to Tadias for featuring Haile Manas Academy!

"As we honor the achievements of HMA's first graduating class, we also celebrate the academy's commitment to providing a transformative education that empower's Ethiopia's future leaders."

Celebrating Milestones: Spotlight on Haile-Manas Academy’s First Graduation at Tadias Magazine Ethiopian Business and Lifestyle

We are proud to announce that 8 HMA students were accepted into the Yale Young Global Scholars and Yale Young African Scholars programs! All 8 participants will be traveling to their respective programs in the US and Zimbabwe.

The and are academic enrichment programs designed for high school students from around the world. The Young African Scholars program is specifically designed for African students who wish to make a meaningful impact as young leaders on the continent.

Congratulations to our Yale Young Scholars—and the entire HMA community!