Founder & Managing Director – Meskot Education

Desta Mekonnen Abreha is a social entrepreneur and technology-driven education advocate dedicated to transforming learning access for crisis-affected communities. He founded Meskot Education, a nonprofit focused on bridging educational gaps in Tigray and other underserved regions through digital learning solutions.

Desta holds a B.Sc. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Mekelle Institute of Technology and has extensive experience in IT, software development, and organizational leadership. His professional journey includes working at the Information Network Security Agency (INSA) in network systems and cybersecurity, as well as serving as CEO of Crowdion, a tech solutions company where he spearheaded innovations in software, IT services, and branding.

In 2019, Desta was selected as a Mandela Washington Fellow (MWF) under the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) of the U.S. State Department. He has since expanded his impact into education, focusing on leveraging technology for learning continuity in emergencies.

Key Leadership & Achievements:

• PDE Fellowship with Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

  • Designed a pilot framework for digital education in emergencies, drawing on CRS’s initiatives in Haiti, Pakistan, and Burkina Faso and adapting them for Tigray.
  • Developed a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) framework to track the impact of offline digital learning solutions.
  • Currently co-authoring a research paper with CRS on Education in Emergencies (EiE) and low-tech digital learning innovations, targeting publication in an academic journal.

• Meskot Education Initiatives

  • Developed K-8 curriculum-aligned digital learning resources in Tigrinya for displaced children.
  • Integrated offline-first learning technologies, including SolarSPELL, USB drives, and community distribution models, to support education in areas with limited internet connectivity.
  • Partnered with local education bureaus, NGOs, and CRS to expand teacher training programs on integrating digital tools in classrooms.

• Strategic Leadership & Advocacy

  • Engaged in policy discussions on education resilience, emphasizing the need for community-led, sustainable education solutions in conflict settings.
  • Led Back2School & School Sanitation4All community projects to improve school accessibility for underserved children.
  • Frequently speaks at education and technology conferences, advocating for the role of digital learning in emergency contexts.

Desta is fluent in Tigrinya, Amharic, English, and Arabic and is passionate about leveraging technology to make education accessible for all. He enjoys football, fitness, and engaging in conversations about scalable, impactful innovations over a drink. While his work takes him across regions, Desta remains deeply rooted in his community and committed to building a future where no child’s education is disrupted by crisis.