Born in Ethiopia in the 1980s, Israel M. Gebru (Danny) grew up as the child of a middle-income Christian family. From his parents, Israel learned his core values of ethics, equality, love, understanding and respect for all people. During his open childhood, his parents taught him his love for music, books, learning and communicating, sports, cycling, gardening and connecting with nature.
Israel’s love for books and learning culminated when he and his friends founded “Genuine Team”. This visionary group of amazing, bright and kind young people believed in volunteerism, the power of reading, self-empowerment and personal growth. This group gave life-changing self-help training for free across Ethiopia. Their goal was to change their country by changing people’s lives.*
The few members of Genuine Team later went on to start an organization “...dedicated to creating a genuine, healthy, and affluent society. They are dedicated to fostering and maintaining positive attitudes in people’s beliefs, habits, and productivity.“**
Eventually, Israel left Genuine Team to build a subsistence farm and live in Bonga, southern Ethiopia. His dream was to have a peaceful off-grid life, and to empower the local rural community to become self-sufficient and self-aware through the power of ideas and innovation.
He provided training, knowledge, seed, economic opportunities and shared experiences with local farmers and their children. He provided small entrepreneurship courses for beginners, along with English language and basic computer training using solar panels as the primary source of electricity.
On his farm, in the small village called Kayakela, he grew all vegetables, coffee, maize and teff. The farm included chickens, sheep and bees, and he and his friends built all structures on the property themselves with the aim of building a small bio-farm-like project. This dream was unfortunately curtailed by local political leaders in the region. He left the area after 4 years.
Israel is a prolific author, having written many books in Amharic and in English. He continues to provide online training sessions to Breakthrough members. He also regularly gives online leadership and self-improvement training to EDWA: Ethiopian Diaspora Women Association located in Germany, with the stated vision being: “The key to purpose is using your strengths to serve others.”
Israel has over 200 videos on his YouTube channel and over six thousand followers on his Facebook page.
*(see his document “the Formation of Genuine Team” for history summarized in Amharic).
**Statement taken from Breakthrough Trading S.C., online: Breakthrough Trading S.C. – Breakthrough Trading S.C. official website.