Mulugeta Yami

An Ethiopian educator and advocate for women's education who founded the first girls' school in Addis Ababa, revolutionizing access to education for women in Ethiopia.

Mulugeta Yami (1900–1980) was a visionary Ethiopian educator and social reformer who championed women's education in a male-dominated society. Born in Harar, she became one of the first Ethiopian women to attend secondary school, later studying at the Queen of Sheba School in Addis Ababa. In 1930, she co-founded the Ethiopian Women's Association, which established the first girls' school in Addis Ababa, breaking barriers for female education. During Haile Selassie's reign, she served as a government advisor on education and health, advocating for girls' enrollment in schools and vocational training. Her work inspired generations of Ethiopian women, and her efforts contributed to Ethiopia's literacy initiatives. Yami's memoir, My Life for Ethiopia, details her struggles and achievements in a patriarchal society.