Werkneh Ourga

Senior- Westlake high school.
Werkneh is from a rural village in Ethiopia. As a small child, his hands became deformed due to the growth of massive tumors. An American doctor met Werkneh in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at Mother Teresa’s Home for the Dying and Destitute and was able to get him to Los Angeles for life-saving hand surgery. Werkneh looks forward to becoming an American citizen someday and is motivated to continually challenge himself so he can make a positive impact on society. He’s interested in studying business, medicine or both, and hopes to travel around the world to accomplish his dreams of making the world a better place. Werkneh loves playing soccer, running, swimming and doing improv. He is grateful for the opportunities he’s been given and dedicates his TEDx talk to all the loving moms, dads, doctors, medical staff, teachers, volunteers, friends and family that will be in his heart always.