Help Hafte from Ethiopia Take the Next Step Toward His PhD

Hafte Teklay, a university lecturer from Ethiopia, has been accepted into a crucial pre-PhD course at Maastricht University. The tuition fee has been waived, but due to the aftermath of conflict and over a year without salary, he cannot afford the travel costs.

This fundraiser is organised by Herma Roebertsen, Senior Lecturer at Maastricht University, a close friend and long-time colleague of Hafte, to help remove this final barrier and enable his path toward a PhD in Health Professions Education. On the picture you can see Herma and Hafte (far right) during a project at Maastricht University.

Who is Hafte?

Hafte Teklay is an academic and clinician at Aksum University in Ethiopia. His work spans teaching, student mentoring, research, and clinical care. He holds:

Through long-term collaboration with Maastricht University and international partners, Hafte has contributed to the introduction of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and student-centred approaches in Ethiopian medical education. Despite the severe impact of conflict in Northern Ethiopia, he remains strongly committed to improving equitable, evidence-based health professions education.

Why this fundraiser?

Hafte has been accepted into the course “Writing a PhD Research Proposal” at Maastricht University, a required and decisive step toward starting a PhD in Health Professions Education.

Due to the conflict in his region, Hafte has faced:

Without external support, this opportunity cannot be realised.

What will the funds be used for?

All donations will be used exclusively for:

Hafte will stay over at Herma's home during the course.

This campaign is solely to overcome financial barriers; no funds are for personal profit.

Why your support matters

This is not just about attending a course. It is an investment in long-term capacity building.

By attending this course, Hafte will be able to:

Health Professions Education remains underdeveloped in Ethiopia. Experts like Hafte are essential for sustainable progress.

About the organizer

This fundraiser is organised by Herma Roebertsen, Senior Lecturer at Maastricht University. Herma and Hafte are close friends and have worked together extensively over the years on health professions education projects. Having collaborated closely with Hafte, Herma believes strongly in his academic potential and long-term impact, and has set up this campaign to help him overcome the final financial hurdle.

Thank you

If we can help Hafte take this step, the door to his PhD – and to lasting impact in Ethiopian healthcare education – will open.

Thank you for your support, your trust, and for sharing this campaign.

Every contribution truly makes a difference.