In September 2014, Hannah participated in an interactive panel about creating a Canadian Children’s Observatory with UNICEF Canada and Governor General His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston and other notable Canadians.
At the “Strong Girls, Strong World” Summit, special guests and speakers included Canada AM host Marci Ien, UNICEF Ethiopia Goodwill Ambassador Hannah Godefa, Olympic Gold medal winners Hayley Wickenheiser and Jennifer Heil, and television personality Rick Mercer. Grade 12 St.Elizabeth Catholic High School student Hannah Godefa, who founded the Pencil Mountain Project agreed. Her main message is that “education is the key to success”. In November 2014, Hannah moderated a panel for the 25th anniversary for the State of the World’s Children Report at the United Nations in New York City
Hannah Godefa is currently a grade 12 student at St. Elizabeth CHS who has been contributing to many worldwide events that promote child well being. She currently works as an ambassador for UNICEF. Hannah was born in Canada on 19 November 1997. Since the age of seven, Hannah has cultivated a desire for giving and founded a project; “pencil mountain”, which has since delivered close to half a million pencils to thousands of children in rural Ethiopia.
A citizen of Canada with Ethiopian origin, Hannah has been recognized locally and internationally and has impressed thousands with her mature and kind demeanour and her ability to make a difference in the lives of children and young people. As a young humanitarian, Hannah speaks about how, through education, we can eliminate many problems children and youth face in Ethiopia today. Hannah is a symbol of education and change for many children. She proceeds to use her power of speech to captivate and mobilize youth to fight for children’s rights to education. Her main message is simple, but powerful: “Education is the key to success”.
In January 2013, Hannah once more, showed her commitment to the issue of children and became a UNICEF National Ambassador to Ethiopia. Her new role opened doors to see UNICEF-assisted programmes in different parts of the country in terms of Health, Education, Child Protection, Nutrition and Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). While in the field, she has inspired many of her peers and especially young girls to pursue their education to the highest level. She has also developed Public Service Announcements advocating for girl’s education in Ethiopia. On October 2013, Hannah impressed many when she made a speech at the highly successful International Day of the Girl Child at UNICEF Head Quarters on “Innovating for Girls’ Education” On December 2013, Hannah moderated the event of the newly appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and world famous singer and song writer Katy Perry, with the Executive Director of UNICEF- Anthony Lake at the UNICEF headquarters in New York.