In Loving Memory

In Loving Memory 

The world suffered great loss in 2020, and the global Seeds of Africa family was not spared. We honor and memorialize Amelework Tadesse and Jolie Peters-Mitnick, the impact of their contributions to Seeds of Africa, and the legacies they leave behind with all of us.

“Our hearts are heavy and we are devastated by the loss of our former colleague and dear friend Jolie Peters-Mitnick. Jolie joined our NYC team in 2017 as our social media manager, and brought her light-hearted, infectious energy with her. We were blessed to have known her, worked with her, and travelled across East Africa together. Whether we were in New York City, Addis Ababa, Nairobi or Diani, Jolie was always first to make friends. When the team worked from the Seeds of Africa campus in Adama in the summer of 2018, Jolie charmed her way into the hearts of students, teachers and staff. We will remember her for her creativity, kindness, her laughter, and the light she brought into every room she stepped in. Jolie was dearly loved, and is sorely missed. Our deepest condolences to Jolie’s parents Jerry Mitnick and Karin Peters, her brother John Peters, her beloved partner GJ Haaland, and all of Jolie’s loved ones of which there are many.  

 Thank you to John Siemen, Larry and Barb Abelin, John A. Deus, Stephen Jacobson, Marv Meyerson, Samuel Bonsignore, and their families for generous gifts to Seeds of Africa in loving memory of Jolie Peters-Mitnick."

- Atti Worku, Founder, Seeds of Africa 

“It is a pleasure to tell you all about Amelework Tadesse. She worked on the Seeds of Africa school’s kitchen staff for five years. She was a very energetic, peaceful, sensitive, strong, open, and fun-loving person. She quickly befriended everyone at Seeds. She was known for bringing people together by making coffee at the school. Staff would go from one campus to the other, where she worked, to have coffee and good conversations. Every time I came across Amele, she would just laugh. She treated even her supervisors as her friends. I still feel as if she passed yesterday. I am full of tears even as I write this. Amelework is survived by her loving husband and two children, a 10 year old son and a two year old daughter. 

We lost two loving and fun people who shared much in common. Rest in Peace, Jolie and Amele.” 

- Bereket Yirgu, Country Director, Seeds of Africa