Lulsegad Shanko

I am Lulsegad Shanko, currently a student at Maryland University since spring 2020. My short life history is as follows; I was born in Ethiopia, but I have spent most of my life in the Netherlands and in the United States of America. In Ethiopia when I was a teenager I used to work part time in my father's little building material shop and go to school.  I came to the Netherlands in 1994 as a political asylum seeker and was granted up to citizenship status. 

I have been politically active against the current regime EPRDF (Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front) since it took power in 1991. It is a brutal dictator government which is dominated by ethnically based party TPLF (Tigray People’s Liberation Front). During my stay in the Netherlands I had participated in the leadership of an Ethiopian community. For two years I served as a treasurer. Also, I used to play soccer representing the Ethiopian community. In addition, I participated in creating the European Soccer Federation for the Ethiopian Community in 2003. After studying the Dutch language I was able to join the Vrij University of Amsterdam, in the Business Economics department 2001. I can speak Dutch language fluently, and I can write at college level. In addition to my native language Amharic I can speak an intermediate level of French language. As a part time I used to work at “The Flora Auction Company” it is one of the world's biggest flower auction companies. Also, as a volunteer I had worked at the Netherlands kidney institute. There I have learned how to market for nonprofit organizations and collect funds. 

Later, in August 2008 I got married with my wife who has been living in the United States of America. Consequently, I moved to the United States in 2011. During my stay here in the U.S.A, I started working at District Photo Inc. There I used to work on a digital photo printing machine. Currently I work part time at Safeway supermarket, which is located in the George Town area. I have been working there as a checker since April 2012. Concerning COVID-19, I have continued working without interruption as an essential worker at Safeway. I have been studying at Montgomery College since 2013. In May 2019 I got my Associate Degree from Montgomery College with Associate Degree in Business of Arts.