Resource Directory
A curated collection of materials designed to support our volunteers and youth programs.
A Guide to Wegene Events
Discover the diverse range of events designed to empower our youth and strengthen our community. This guide provides clear expectations for each event type.
1. Kickoff
WYC Community Members & Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting is the very first Wegene gathering of the year — it's where all members come together for the first time as a full organization. Each team gets to know one another, aligns on their purpose, and begins laying the groundwork for the year ahead.
What to Expect
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Gather with your team and get to know your fellow directors and members.
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Prepare and deliver a team speech outlining your goals for the year.
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Create and present a slideshow showcasing your team's plans and vision.
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Hear from other teams about what they'll be working on throughout the year.
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Leave with a clear sense of WYC's collective mission and your role in it.
2. Fundraiser
Grand African Run (GAR)
The Grand African Run is one of WYC's key fundraising events. Members participate in a 5K run or walk and are encouraged to raise as much money as possible through ticket sales and donor outreach leading up to race day.
What to Expect
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Receive instructions on registering and obtaining your run tickets on the event website.
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Fundraise before the event — your goal is to raise as much as you can from friends, family, and supporters.
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Show up on race day ready to run or walk the 5K — all paces welcome!
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Receive a WYC t-shirt to wear during the run.
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Help run the Wegene table if you're not participating in the race.
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Top fundraisers and first-place finishers will receive prizes.
3. Formal Event
WEF Anniversary Gala
The Gala is WYC's most formal and complex event of the year. This high-energy evening brings together community members, donors, and supporters. Members play an active role — from setting up to performing to fundraising on the floor.
What to Expect
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Dress in formal attire — this is a classy affair!
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Sell Gala tickets to community members and supporters ahead of the event.
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Help with event setup and assist with any on-site plans (members have helped with a fashion show in past years).
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Participate in a group dance performance and speech, rehearsed and choreographed weeks in advance.
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Download a tap-to-donate app on your phone and use it to collect donations from attendees.
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Track donations on a paper sheet and help run the Wegene table throughout the evening.
4. Community Event
Annual Brunch with Santa
Brunch with Santa is one of the most hands-on and festive events of the year. Members help bring a magical holiday experience to the community — complete with decor, Santa photos, face painting, and great food. Setup starts the day before!
What to Expect
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Arrive the day before for setup — hanging decorations, arranging furniture, setting up Santa's chair, placing tables and chairs.
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On event day, arrive early to finish any remaining setup before guests arrive.
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Work stations during the event: face painting, Santa photo line, donations, and general event support.
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Take on a leadership role in guiding guests and keeping things running smoothly.
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Enjoy catered food as part of the event — one of the perks of working hard!
5. Service Event
Winter Drive for the Homeless
The Winter Drive is a community service event where WYC members come together to collect and distribute supplies for those in need. It's also a meaningful check-in moment for the organization — a chance to reflect on what each team has accomplished and reconnect as a group.
What to Expect
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Meet at Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant in Skyline.
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Collect, sort, bag, and load donated supplies to be distributed to homeless community members.
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Participate in a team check-in where each person shares what they've accomplished so far this year.
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Hear updates from each team on their progress and goals.
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Wrap up with catered Ethiopian food — a warm reward for a meaningful day's work.
6. Social event
WYC High School Formal
The WYC High School Formal is a celebratory dance event for high school members, their friends, and family from the Wegene community. Think school dance vibes — great food, loud music, speeches, and a 360 video booth. Tickets are required for non-members.
What to Expect
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Come to set up before the event and help with cleanup afterward.
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Enjoy a spread of sandwiches, sweets, salads, and more.
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Experience a 360-degree video booth — a great photo opportunity for everyone.
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Dance the night away to loud music with your WYC community.
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Listen to speeches celebrating the organization and its members.
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Note: Entry requires either a paid ticket or WYC membership — make sure guests purchase tickets in advance.
7. end of year
WYC Homecoming/Reunion Picnic
The Homecoming Picnic is WYC's heartwarming end-of-year celebration. It brings together graduating members, new members, and alumni for a relaxed outdoor gathering full of food, games, and community. A time to reflect on the year and honor those moving on.
What to Expect
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Sign up in advance and bring a food or supply item to contribute to the shared spread.
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Enjoy a potluck-style meal with fellow members and alumni.
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Play games and spend quality time with the WYC community.
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Participate in or witness a closing ceremony honoring the graduating WYC term.
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Welcome new members and celebrate the legacy of those who've served.
Have questions? Reach out to your team director or WYC leadership — we're always happy to help. We're glad you're here!
" Wegene Ethiopian Foundation is a McLean, Virginia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Ethiopian Americans who wanted to give back to families in Ethiopia. The name Wegene means empowering my community in Amharic.
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What sets them apart is their whole-family approach; rather than targeting children alone, they work to stabilize and empower parents, using local Ethiopian caregivers who treat sponsored families as their own. The belief is simple: self-sufficient parents create better futures for their kids. Their mission addresses three core barriers to families' escape from poverty: lack of education, poor housing, and family instability.
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They're a registered 501(c)(3), so donations are tax-deductible. You can give a one-time gift, become a member, or sponsor a specific program. "
The Spiel
Informational Links
At many events, you will be expected to know what Wegene is very well. Volunteers must explain the organization and represent it to convince sponsors of the cause. Enjoy the array of informational links to important information for Wegene volunteers to aid in their knowledge, as well as to display to people to donate.