Jabal Tufa is Vice-president and co-founder of Gadab Foundation

Born in small town called Assassa, In Oromia, Jabal came to the United States in 1997. After graduating from high school with high honors, he enrolled at Portland State University in Portland Oregon. He is currently a junior at PSU preparing himself for medical school. Because of his attitude toward his education, Jabal has received numerous academic recognitions.

After completion of his bachelor degree, Jabal has a plan to attend medical school to earn his doctorate. He is enthusiastic and confident about his future and is willing to do what ever it takes to achieve his academic goals.

While in High School he participated in the varsity soccer team and has also been involved in Math Club. He also took advantage of the opportunity to work as a high school intern at Oregon Heath and Science University the summer after his junior year where the lab he worked at involved the study of Fanconi Anemia (Fanconi Anemia is a rare, recessive disease that leads to leukemia in 80% of the time). He was supervised by one of the best researcher.

Jabal has volunteered at various places which includes local elementary school where he tutored ESL students to enhance their reading, writing and math skill, and serve as positive role models. He has also volunteered over 200 hours at the Multnomah county library helping patrons with Microsoft Application and the Internet.

He comments, “I want to get an opportunity where I can help people with what I have learned throughout my life. I’m a dedicated person who is always willing to help others”. He has also volunteered at Oregon Health Science University hospital getting firsthand experience of healthcare settings. His duty includes interviewing patients who qualified for research study, collecting and extracting data and engaging with the clinician and patients in a professional manner. Jabal says, “I love working with people, yet willing to learn new skills from those more experienced”.

“Through the Gadab Foundation, I believe we can provide the necessary financial to those bright students to achieve their potentials. It’s our duty as a future generation to support a new generation of hope. We need to take advantage of the opportunity we have here.” Jabal’s biggest dream is to build clinics back home so that people in the rural area can have easier access to basic medical needs.

Jabal’s favorite quote is: "Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom." (George Washington Carver)
"Where there is no vision, there is no hope." (George Washington Carver)