Aster Belay

Chair

I met Workneh in the mid-nineties through the Oromo Community in London – this led to us getting married in 2005 and we had our son Yadata in August 2006. 

As long as I have known him, Workneh’s post-retirement dream was to build a school in the town he grew up in because he knew the struggle that was the journey to get to and back from school from first-hand experience. During his 24-year career in Camden Education, his fervour for supporting local communities and refugee groups has had a remarkable impact on the lives of so many Camden residents and this will always be his legacy – helping people’s lives through education. 

This is why we have set up the Workneh Dechasa Education Foundation, to realise his dream by building a local school and making sure the children of Workneh’s hometown get the chance to have a stable education.

Feyisa Demie

Treasurer

I  have worked extensively with local authorities, government departments, schools in London over 27 years. I also  worked closely in improving education  for marginalised groups with Workneh while he was working in Camden Education. 

I have known Workneh  for over 30 years and he was a close friend. His wishes were to establish primary schools in his hometown to support children in rural areas.  I have joined the Workneh Dechasa Educational Foundation charity to support and celebrate his legacy working with disadvantaged and marginalised groups in education.  

I strongly believe in the Charity objectives of providing and assisting in the provision of an Elementary School in memory of Workneh Dechasa, in his birthplace in Guder – Oromia in Ethiopia.

Siobhan Crawley

Vice Chair

As a colleague, I worked with Workneh supporting Supplementary Schools in Camden that offered
out-of-hours education to a range of different communities, focusing on mother tongue classes and core subjects.

Now I want to remember Workneh by being involved in the planning and delivery of the school he wanted to build for his own community in Oromia. I hope this project is able to bring a part of Workneh’s plans to fruition.

As I worked with him, I began to know him as a friend too. His passion for supporting children through their education was infectious and tireless. He planned many activities for children and their communities which celebrated their successes and achievements.