Support Addis Ababa University's top talent!

Team Addis Ababa needs your help to reach the final rounds of a world-class competition in Vienna! Addis Ababa University's top law students are participating in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot ("the Vis Moot"). The Vis Moot is the world’s largest annual moot court (mock/simulated legal proceedings) in commercial law and arbitration, with almost 400 universities from all around the world participating. It is a prestigious international event that involves nine months of hard work in preparations and culminates in a week-long event in Vienna, Austria (22 - 29 March 2024), where the students will put all their preparations and oral arguments to the test together with hundreds of other students from around the world.

The Vis Moot experience offers students an excellent opportunity to expand their skills, network, and kick start their legal careers. It is a game-changer. Unfortunately, African universities are traditionally underrepresented in the Vis Moot, largely due to a lack of financial resources.

Team Addis Ababa is one of the teams facing financial challenges. This year only in-person participation in Vienna is possible, meaning expenses for flights, visas, accommodation, and meals are needed. After months of hard work and dedication remotely, Team Addis Ababa needs your support so that we can travel to Vienna for the final event and show what we are made of!

We are eager to show off our hard work and achieve the best possible results in the competition. As we are only the second-ever Addis Ababa University team to participate in the Vis Moot in-person, we do not have institutional experience or much local (financial or other) support yet, but we are ready to make history! We are eager to make our school and our country proud, pioneer a new path and opportunities for future law students and lawyers in Ethiopia in the future, as well as raise awareness about arbitration and other relevant legal topics.

We are very grateful for our existing sponsors who have contributed towards our total budget so far, but we need your help with the remaining costs to reach Vienna. Please support us if you are in a position to do so. Every bit helps! Your support will have a huge impact on us as individuals and on the broader goals of Team AAU and Africa in the Moot.

ABOUT TEAM ADDIS ABABA

Vis Moot Team Addis Ababa University consists of Fiker Shimelis, Mistere Getnet, Liya Kurabachew, and Selamawit Worku ("Team AAU"). These students, together with their dedicated local coaches, namely Awoke Mitku, Borga Delessa, and Hamrawi Kelemu, on behalf of Addis Ababa University and our country, Ethiopia, will be participating in the 31st Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration moot court competition. Team AAU is also supported by Erin Cronjé as their head satellite coach, and a South African-qualified attorney currently practicing international arbitration at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek in the Netherlands. Find out more about us here: Team AAU LinkedIn

OUR MISSION IS PART OF A MOVEMENT

Team Addis Ababa University is a member of a not-for-profit organization called Africa in the Moot (Africa in the Moot LinkedIn), which aims to support African law students through training, coaching, and logistical support to participate in the Vis Moot and other opportunities. This initiative feeds a critical movement towards promoting talented African law students, advancing equal representation in international arbitration, and thereby promoting the development of arbitration in Africa (and African practitioners). Team AAU is one of the 17 African universities with Africa in the Moot this year and is thus part of the largest group of African universities that has ever participated in the Vis Moot. Team AAU was part of the group that broke the record for participation last year; we look forward to breaking that record again!

EXPENSES AND ALLOCATION OF FUNDS

Contributions will be applied to the following heads of cost (for 5 people):

(1) Flight tickets between Addis Ababa and Vienna (approx. EUR 800 p.p.);

(2) Accommodation in Vienna, 22 March–30 March 2024 (approx. EUR 2000–2500);

(3) Schengen visa application costs (EUR 80 p.p.)

(4) Local expenses in Vienna, such as meals and public transport (approximately EUR 1000).

(5) Travel insurance (EUR 22 p.p.)

Deadline

Due to our Schengen visa application process, the team needs to demonstrate sufficient funds to the Austrian Embassy (Addis Ababa) by February 28, 2024.

Thank you for your support!

Logistical and financial notes