Simien Eco Trek

Wubetu co-founded Simien Eco Trek in 2017, as a social enterprise that offers tour services in Ethiopia while empowering local communities. The tour company creates personalised itineraries and organises tour services across Ethiopia, developing local employment opportunities and supporting a more sustainable form of tourism in the country. In addition to Simien Eco Trek, Wubetu is a filmmaker, creating meaningful content to document his generation, challenge the status quo, and give a voice to those who have been historically underrepresented in the media.

Wubetu attended the One Young World Summit in The Hague, 2018, and was a Delegate Speaker at the Summit in London 2019. Since becoming an Ambassador, he has collaborated with One Young World, globally and regionally in Africa by participating in several panel discussions, including the #TogetherApart Series. 

Through the work of Simien Eco Trek, Wubetu has impacted more than 12,400 people in Ethiopia. He has directly created jobs for 600 people thanks to his sustainable tourism initiative. In partnership with Watts of Love, Wubetu has implemented one of his landmark projects, Light and Hope for Ethiopia, through which 8,400 people in remote parts of the Simien Mountains have gained access to 1,200 solar lights. These solar lights are sustainable energy sources that do not require kerosene. He has worked to reduce stigmatisation of menstrual health in Ethiopia via national campaigns, while creating jobs in the production of reusable menstrual pads and distributing pads in remote villages. In total, more than 2,000 women have been impacted. Simien Eco Trek has also provided financial literacy and social entrepreneurship training to 1,400 people.

“I feel lucky to be part of this Community, and still I'm in touch with a lot of people. There's not any other organisation that I would rather be part of than One Young World,  I feel proud. For me, One Young World has created what they say they wanted to create, which is connecting global leaders that are changing the world in different aspects.”