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ETHIOPIAN LIFE FOUNDATION
press information

Press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Subject: MISS ETHIOPIA WORLD 2003 YODIT GETAHUN SACKED

Date 8th February 2004.

The Executive board of the Ethiopian life foundation wishes to announce the Immediate Dethronement, stripping of the title of Miss Ethiopia world 2003, and dismissal from this Organisation of Yodit Getahun, who up till now previously held the title of Miss Ethiopia World 2003, the decision was taken at an extraordinary meeting held recently, in light of her refusal to return to Ethiopia and her education after her assignment to represent Ethiopia at the Miss International, and Miss Earth Beauty pageants since November 2003, and wilful disregard and repeated violations of the terms that she agreed to and that govern her conduct as Miss Ethiopia World 2003, and several other factors that the board considers not in the best interest of the foundation or her future, 

Miss Getahun was chosen by a distinguished panel for this organisation as its goodwill and HIV ambassador, and as a positive role mode for young Ethiopians, however she has repeatedly failed to stick to the aims and objectives and humanitarian goals that were assigned to her in to carry out in Ethiopia, in favour of her own hidden personal agenda which involves her abandoning the country and the job the she was chosen to do for this country, which is totally at variance with the objectives for which this foundation was set up, 

As at the present time of this press release, Miss Getahun still remains in the Philippines after her attending the Miss Earth Beauty pageant, which was concluded on the 9th of November 2003. 3 months ago and still refuses to return to Ethiopia, to resume her studies, which she secretly withdrew from at the ADDIAS ABAB UNIVERSITY [with out informing us] despite repeated instructions from this organisation with whom she is under contract to and has obligation to, to return to Ethiopia and her studies at the University, All the contestants from that contest have long since returned home except Miss Getahun. We feel that she is unable to be Miss Ethiopia world and live in the Philippines illegally. 

We see her secret dropping out of University and abandoning her education, her duties and obligations to this organisation and the Ethiopian people, as a serious betrayal of the trust and faith placed in her by this organisation, whom she should have consulted on such an important issue, and the wrong kind of message and example for a National Beauty Queen of her calibre who is known world wide to be setting for her peers and young Ethiopians who look up to her. If we had known about this we would not have sent her to Japan or the Philippines, and she knew this, and so concealed her true intentions till she was safely out of the country.

98 % of International beauty queens have at least a University degree or are pursuing some academic course in higher institutions of education, and we feel very strongly that we cannot stand by her, so long as she refuses to return to her education, which we feel is the most important foundation she requires in life, that will guarantee her a brighter future in life. 

Her primary responsibility as Miss Ethiopia World 2003 and role model is to educate the young Ethiopians about the dangers of HIV and the benefits of a good education, over the quest for quick money that often leads young Ethiopian females down the slippery and dangerous path to prostitution and other nefarious activities, and we will not allow the Hidden personal agenda of one individual who has been selected by this organisation as a role model to distract us, or hold this foundation to ransom, 

With immediate effect the first runner up, Miss Muna Fikremariam, who remained in her studies after the competition, is officially appointed as Miss Ethiopia World 2003 and takes over the reign, and will execute the reign of Miss Ethiopia world 2003 for a further 5 months until August 2004 or when the next Miss Ethiopia World 2004 is be chosen. 

We wish Miss Getahun all the best in her future endeavours, however we still feel very strongly, that her education is far more important and beneficial to her, rather than her present personal goals, of chasing elusive and secret movie and commercial deals in the Philippines, which is not known for producing any noteworthy films, or her chasing other rainbows and butterflies around the world, at the expense of a sound education, when her pot of gold is right here at home with her country folk. Further more she was fully aware of the responsibilities that were expected of her, and she has been given every opportunity to succeed, and all the necessary guidance and assistance from this organisation to enable her to carry out her objectives, and for us to guide her career alongside her education,  

As negative as this decision may seem in the first instance, we have to stress that we like any organisation have rules and objectives, and no one can expect to be above the rules of their sponsoring organisation any more than Miss Getahun, anyone who fails to turn up for working any other organisation or company for 3 months would have been sacked a long time ago, we have bee very patient with her, and we are sure that this will be a clear example of what not to do when given the chance to represent your country

Her country and this organization require her services as Miss Ethiopia World 2003, but she is not wiling to give her services, due to bad advice from unknown individuals and her own personal belief that her education is not important to her, but appearing in low budget movies in the Philippines and being seen on TV in the Philippines is more important than her Education. 

The title and crown of MISS ETHIOPIA WORLD is bigger than the head or any ego of any one who wears the crown but sadly Miss Getahun seems to have forgotten this very important fact,  

Miss Getahun in our humble opinion is a bright and talented girl who did a good job during the time she held the office, but she lacks the discipline and commitment to this organisation, in favour of secretly exploiting the title for her own personal agenda, with individuals not connected to this organisation, and as she was given more and more International exposure by this organisation to help her future, her ego and belligerence got worse and worse, and we feel at this point that we have to take a moral stand against her behaviour and actions, to send a very clear and unmistakable message to any future Miss Ethiopia world Beauty queens, that we will not tolerate any from of disloyalty, or betrayal of trust, nor associate with any person likely to bring this organisation into disrepute. And we will not hesitate to immediately disassociate from any such person even if they have only 1 day left in their reign as Miss Ethiopia World,

Further more the recent incident where a beauty queen from Peru was lured to an unknown location under false pretences highlights the need for Miss Getahun to be open and honest and communicate to us whom ever approaches her, she steadfastly refuses to do this and pretends that she has no manager or organisation behind her, we feel that this is very dangerous for her, considering before she was crowned she had never bee out of Ethiopia or experienced the real world of deceitful and con men out there, who prey on naive young girls, especially a National beauty queen, and we cannot be responsible for her actions which have the potential to embarrass her and this great country. 

Any one seeking further clarification on this story or verification may contact us via email at  missethiopiapr@diplomats.com or thelifefoundation@diplomats.com any other sources of official comments via email from any other email addresses not listed above are not to be relied on

 

 

The Ethiopian life foundation

 

 

 

The Ethiopian Fife Foundation is a Non-profit, Non-Governmental Orgnaistion, dedicated to HIV awareness and humanitarian projects in Ethiopia

 

All events, projects and programmes are subject to change and may be subject to Government approval where required, The Ethiopian Life foundation nor any of its officers shall be held responsible for any event  hither to advertised but not approved or cancelled for any reason