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Home  Honored Members 2005 Dr. Jember Teffera
 Dr. Jember, who is also known as “Sister Jember” from her days as a Nurse, is a Founder and Director of the NGO known as Integrated Holistic Approach Urban Development Project (IHA-UDP) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Dr. Jember, referred to as Ethiopia’s “Mother Theresa” by Jason Beaubien of the National Broadcasting Radio’s, NPR’s Jason Beaubien. She is indeed, a true selfless individual by whose act of kindness and hard work many Ethiopian lives have been saved and positively impacted. Dr. Jember was born in the 1943.
She completed her elementary school in Ethiopia and her secondary education in Great Britain where she received her high school diploma. She then attended Turnbridge Wells School of Nursing in England and completed her education as a registered nurse in 1965. A few years later, she received a master’s degree in Primary Health Care (PHC) and M.Phil. from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. In May 2001, she obtained her Doctor of Divinity degree from the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary of Eastern Baptist College in Philadelphia in the U.S. As part of her doctoral research, she prepared a handbook for poverty alleviation through Holistic Ministry. Sister Jember has served her fellow Ethiopians, especially the poor, destitute and less fortunate for over three decades by making their lives better and improving the standards of our communities. She is credited as the person who prepared the Amharic First Aid Manual. She is also identified as being instrumental in expansion of ambulance services outside city limits in Ethiopia, activating the vaccination program and other health advancing programs by collaborating with the Red Cross and other notable organizations in Ethiopia. Dr. Jember and her late husband Dr. Hailegiorgis (Mayor of Addis Ababa during the Haileselassie regime) were imprisoned for 12 years in the late 1970s and ‘80s, during the Derg era. Even while in prison, Sister Jember never rested. She established an accredited health training school, trained over 85 health assistants among the prisoners and guards, a program that continued even after she was released from prison. The (IHA_UDP) of which Dr. Jember is a founder and director has raised millions of dollars, built over 1100 houses, rebuilt the slums of Addis-Kebele 30, 41, 42 and 43. Under her guidance over 52 programs were administered including job training, health care, schooling, sanitation, assisting the elderly and the disabled to mention, but a few. Sister Jember, now Dr. Jember, is an outstanding role model and exemplary woman who has lived a life that meets the highest standards and ideals of our community. SEED salutes Dr. Jember Teferra for her selfless deportment whole-hearted commitment to bettering our community and the world at large. As inspiring humanitarian and self-less professional, Dr. Jember has made a significant difference in the lives of thousands of women, children, and poor families in Ethiopia. Her demonstrated love for Ethiopia and Ethiopians will be forever admired and appreciated. Congratulations! On behalf of Ethiopians in the Diaspora, we extend our many, many long overdue thanks to you, for reflecting the highest ideals and standards of our community.
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