Spring 2021

Think Creative by Creative Associates International

Letter from Leland Kruvant President & CEO Creative Associates International

CREATIVE SENIOR LEADERSHIP

Founder & Board Chair Charito Kruvant President & CEO Leland Kruvant Chief Operating Officer Pablo Maldonado Chief Financial Officer Oswaldo Holguin Senior Vice President Thomas Wheelock VP, External Relations Jessica Kruvant VP, Global Operations Mario Vilela VP, Education Eileen St. George VP, Economic Growth Jim Winkler

It has been a year since COVID-19 upended our lives, infected millions of people and caused the tragic loss of so many worldwide. Though the pandemic is far from over, we are hopeful for a better tomorrow as new vaccines be- come more readily available. Nonetheless, our staff and imple- menting partners have skillfully navigated through uncharted territory by developing new strategies and testing techniques that deliver sustainable results for our beneficiaries, clients and host governments. Whether it is reopening class- rooms in Ethiopia, delivering textbooks to remote parts of

Mozambique or promoting peace- ful dialogue among communities in Guatemala, our programs con- tinued to reach and improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. That, too, gives us hope. We cannot claim victory over the pandemic, but we can herald many successes – some of them are shared in this issue of Think Creative – and I applaud every- one’s unwavering commitment to Creative’s mission and vision. President Biden’s progressive global development agenda gives us hope. In addition to many pub- lic statements, his international development transition team

and the Council of International Development Companies, which I currently chair, had an honest and productive discussion about resetting U.S. priorities and how implementing partners could contribute to their vision. The president’s confirmed officials, pending nominees and other political appointees bring extensive government and man- agement expertise to the global development arena. We look forward to working in partner- ship with them and the career professionals in these agencies. Sincerely,

EDITORIAL STAFF

Senior Director, Communications Michael J. Zamba Art Direction Amanda Smallwood Communications Manager Marta S. Maldonado Marketing Coordinator Evelyn Rupert Writer Janey Fugate Digital & Social Media Specialist Olivia Chapman

Back in the Classroom 22 p.

20 Feature Stories

20 // Weaving Peace: Conflict mediation graduates employ their training in Guatemala’s Western Highlands 22 // Back in the Classroom: Ethiopia’s education leaders get students up to speed safely

25 Creative Life A mission-driven community 26 // Staff Spotlight: Fathi El-Ashry Leading solutions for quality education 27 // • Staff Photos

Meet Fathi! 26 p.

Think Creative is published three times a year by Creative Associates International, a global development organization dedicated to supporting people around the world to realize the positive change they seek. The content is produced by Creative and does not represent the policies or positions of its clients, partners or host governments. Reproduction of any or all of Think Creative is prohibited without prior written permission. Copyright ©2021.

Q & Awith Ardo Aden 27 p.

• Creative fundraiser brings hurricane relief to Honduras

For more information about Think Creative , please email us at ThinkCreative@CreativeDC.com

28 // Q&A with Somalia’s Ardo Aden 28 // Creative HQ moves to a new home 30 // Walk this Way: A day in the life of Yajaira Hernández,

4445 Willard Avenue NW, Suite 400 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 + 202.966.5804 Creative Associates International

Gender Specialist for the Dry Corridor Alliance-PROSASUR

Photos by Skip Brown (Leland Kruvant); Berihun Ali (Back in Classroom); Mounya El Asri (El-Ashry); Ardo Aden (Q&A)

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