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Tamam Waritu is President and founder of Gadab Foundation
Born in a small town called Assassa, Oromia - East Africa, Tamam came to the United States in 1999. After completing his high school in 2003, Tamam was accepted to Portland State University with a full ride academic scholarship. He is currently a junior at Portland Sate University studying IS and CS, and preparing himself for graduate school.
After completion of his bachelor degree, Tamam has a plan to attend graduate school to earn his masters, and then continue into a PhD program. He is a conscientious and energetic student. Upon his graduation from high school, Tamam was awarded eight different academic scholarships. Tamam was a McNair Scholar for the year 2006. He was also recently elected as a Student Senator in the Student
Government
. He is also a
Treasurer
for the NAACP @ PSU. Curently, he is employed at the Office of Admissions.
As an active volunteer, Tamam has worked in various places, including Multnomah County Library, The Albina Community, University Park Community Center, Intel Computer Club House, and he has also been invited as a guest speaker to high school students visiting Portland Sate University on many occasions. He is currently working as an Intern with the department of International Studies. As a result of his hard work, he has received over twenty recognition certificates. “I volunteer, for I have come this far with the assistance of those who volunteered their time to help others,” he says.
One of Tamam’s biggest dreams is to help Oromo students back home. He says, “I believe that, through programs such as the Gadab Foundation Scholarship Program, we can increase the number of Oromo students in the higher education. And, therefore, I challenge all my Oromo people in Diaspora to form a similar program, or become part of our foundation, that would provide financial assistance to those deserving students back in Oromia.”
Tamam feels that it is only through education that the Oromo people could better themselves. Tamam comments, “I have always been convinced that it is the lack of education that kept us from accomplishing many of our goals. And I strongly believe that it is only through education that we can turn this around for education is the straightest path to a successful and rewarding future. And one of the best ways that we can change the lack of education in our society is by helping the new generation of students acquire a good education.”
Tamam’s favorite quote is: "Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that a son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another ." ( Nelson Mandela )
Tamam may be reached by e-mail at tamam@gadabfoundation.org