Medhanye Alem joined CVT in October 2014, originally as a counselor, and was promoted several times: to counseling supervisor in March 2017, associate trainer/psychotherapist in September 2018, psychotherapist/trainer in November 2019 and then to clinical program director in 2024. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Mekelle University and a Master’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Axum University. Prior to coming to CVT, he has worked at Hashenge Construction Plc, providing training for management-level employees on handing personnel issues for six months and, prior to that, at Gibson School Systems in Addis Ababa as a school teacher and counselor for students for 2.5 years.

Among many others, Medhanye has completed an International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance (IDHA), and prior to that Mental Health in Complex Emergencies course both from Fordham University held in Amman, Jordan in November 2022 and September 2017 respectively. He has also completed courses on Counselling in Trauma and Stress and Managing Teams and Organizations organized by KURVE Wustrow – Centre for Training and Networking in Nonviolent Action in Germany in October 2019. Furthermore, he was accorded technical visits to Centrum ’45, the STRENGTHS project and NIDOS in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to learn and exchange information about Eritrean refugees’ trauma healing processes in countries of first asylum as well as resettlement. Medhanye participated in a visiting program to CVT Kenya’s Nairobi project between May and August 2018. He also served as training consultant, visiting IOM Djibouti three times between October and December 2018 to improve MHPSS services at its center in Obock. He speaks English, Amharic and Tigrigna.

Medhanye and his colleagues at CVT published this article at Intervention Journal titled, “Programming to address suicidal behavior among unaccompanied refugee minors in a camp setting: A field report from Ethiopia.” Medhanye Alem is a featured speaker in CVT’s Restoring Hope Breakfast fundraising program with donors in October 2023.