Amanuel Melles

Amanuel Melles arrived in Canada in 1993 from Eritrea. His academic background is in the field of marine sciences and research and in his home country, he headed the department of Marine Biology & Fisheries at the University of Asmara. As a certified underwater research diver, Amanuel studied and conducted research in Kenya, Mauritius, Saudi Arabia, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy.

His initial search for employment was discouraging; however, he was determined to transfer his management experience and skills in another field and before long found project work with the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI).

Amanuel has made a significant contribution to the social well being of the immigrant and refugee communities. He is the founding member of the Eritrean Canadian Society for Youth Advancement, mobilizing the community and providing leadership in public relations, project planning and implementation. He motivated volunteers to address stress and suicide prevention in the Eritrean Canadian community and co-founded the Canadians for Peace & Development in Eritrea (CPDE), an organization advocating peace and respect for human rights in the context of war between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Through written articles and media attention, Amanuel encourages people from Eritrea and Ethiopia living in Canada to work together for peace. He provided leadership to mobilize Eritrean Canadians living across Canada to advocate for Government of Canada’s proactive involvement in promoting peace among the two African countries.

Amanuel sits on the Board of Toronto Distress Centres and the Ontario Council of International Cooperation and, through his numerous networks and links with ethnoracial groups strives to bring about social change in Canada.

Amanuel is currently the Interim Program Director at Lawrence Heights Community Health Centre.