NAIROBI, Kenya – Life in Abundance International (LIA) formally announces the placement of Yenenesh Gelela Wolteji on its Senior Management Team to fill the Director of Programs position.This position was previously held by Dr. Yared Mekoria Mekonen, who will remain the Ethiopia Country Director, for Life in Abundance – Ethiopia (LIA-E). Yenenesh brings a wealth of pragmatic and academic experience in wholistic community development to the LIA team.

Prior to joining LIA, Yenenesh served as the Dean at the Mekane Yesus Seminary in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where she was also a lecturer in leadership and social development for nearly 13 years. Currently, Yenenesh is completing her doctoral dissertation in Urban Transformation at the Bakke Graduate University (Seattle, WA), which complements her M.A. degree in Rural Social Development obtained in the UK.

“Often, I have heard colleagues and students alike refer to Yenenesh as a ‘friend of the marginalized’ because of her deep desire to see church based community development multiplied throughout the African continent. Her academic experience in the field, coupled with the practical experience she has had, make Yenenesh a true asset to the LIA team,” said Dr. Florence Muindi, Founder and President of the organization. Yenenesh is married and has three boys. Her oldest son (22) lives in the USA.

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Life in Abundance International is serving Africa's poorest communities in a new way. Our approach is wholistic, participatory and works to identify assets already in the community, rather than relying on assets from the outside in perpetuity. LIA staff provide focused wholistic development training, program management, and technical support to transform these communities through the local churches. We equip the local churches to go beyond traditional teaching and preaching ministries in an effort to meet the practical needs of their neighbors, effectively, for long term sustainable community transformation.