At age 24, Meseret Defar is one of the world’s most accomplished runners, winning an Olympic gold medal in the women’s 5000 meters in Athens in 2004. She also was awarded a silver medal at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics, and more recently the 2006 World Indoor Championships for 3000 meters. In June she broke the outdoor world’s record in the 5k at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York. Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on November 19, 1983, Meseret was given a rare gift that, with hard work, has allowed her the opportunity to achieve prominence. Unfortunately, many Ethiopian girls are not as fortunate. Not only aren’t they able to attend school, but they resort to prostitution to afford to live, or, they are exploited by ruthless individuals. In some cases, girls as young as 12 are forced into marriage and childbearing. COEEF gives people the opportunity to help these young women become educated and, like Meseret Defar, achieve their dreams.

Meseret continues to win every race she has entered in 2007 including breaking another world’s record in Carlbad, California and winning the African Championships in Algiers in July of 2007. After winning in Algiers on July 18th, she and her husband Teddy, treated the Mesgana girls and Norm to lunch at her home in Addis Ababa. The girls delighted Meseret, Teddy, and their daughter Melat, with a selection of dances from the 2007 tour. Her desire is to meet up with the girls, somewhere along the 2007 tour, after the world championships in September.

We are honored to have Meseret support Children of Ethiopia Education Fund. The Mesgana Dancers are proud to have her support as honorary director of the group.