Spotlight On...
Ojulu Ochalla
Intern
Ojulu Ochalla's journey to Rochester began in Gambela, a small town in western Ethiopia that gained international notoriety in 2003 when residents from the Anuak tribe were massacred by government soldiers.
The Gambela tragedy was still far in the future when Ojulu was growing up with his Anuak family. He attended a local elementary school, then left home to attend a boarding school for his high school years. He completed his education with a history degree from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia's capital city.
Ojulu's first job was teaching high school history in Lalibela, a small Ethiopian town that is world famous for its eleven spectacular churches, each carved in the 12th century out of a single enormous block of granite. (Follow the link above to see photos of these incredible works of art).
After four years in Lalibela, Ojulu returned to his home town of Gambela to teach. It was here that he met and married his wife Friday, the daughter of one of the other teachers. Four sons were born to them, and later, a little daughter.
After eight years as a history teacher, Ojulu joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He worked six years in Addis Ababa before he took a position at the Ethiopian embassy in Geneva, Switzerland. His children attended Swiss schools, where they quickly learned French.
It was while he was stationed in Geneva that Ojulu made the decision to move to the United States. His wife Friday and their four-year-old son Jaja were back in Gambela for a visit when hostilities against the Anuak broke out again. Friday and Jaja were forced to flee for their lives and hide in the bush until the situation calmed down. Ethiopia was home, but safety and security for his family were more important.
In June of 2006, Friday moved to the U.S. with the children, and Ojulu followed in October. Once again, the family began to carve out a new life. The boys quickly learned English at their new schools. Today Odong attends Century High School, Daniel attends Kellogg Middle School, and Owar and Jaja attend Jefferson Elementary. Daughter Akach was born in the U.S. about a year and a half ago.
Friday continues to study English at Hawthorne Education Center and works third shift at Reichel Foods. Ojulu works part time at the Diversity Council in an internship sponsored by the Minnesota Family Investment Program, which helps families transition into the workforce. He also works part time at the Government Center and part time as a substitute paraprofessional for Rochester Public Schools.
We are pleased to welcome Ojulu as part of the Diversity Council team and wish all the best to the Ochalla family as they make their future in Rochester.
You can read more about the ethnic cleansing in Gambela in the McGill Report, written by Rochester journalist Doug McGill.