C2C Agile Scholarship

My name is Babiyew Sibhat Zewdie. I was born and raised in a small farming village in Ethiopia as the fifth of nine children in a farmer family. Education was never guaranteed for me. During my early schooling, political instability, limited resources, and traditional expectations made learning extremely difficult. At one point in Grade 4, I became the only student left in my class. Determined to continue my education, I walked three to four hours through the forest to reach the nearest city so I could stay in school. That experience shaped my resilience, independence, and deep commitment to learning.

I completed my elementary and secondary education in Addis Zemen, earned my bachelor’s degree from Haramaya University, and later completed my Master’s degree at Bahir Dar University while working for the Ethiopian government in Environment, Land Administration, and Use Authority. I served in leadership roles, including as a department head, and gained professional experience in Europe and Asia. My work involved GIS, remote sensing, and geospatial data analytics, which sparked my strong interest in data, technology, and cloud-based solutions.

After moving to the United States, I began again from scratch, working in customer service while continuing my studies and adapting to a new life. Through Classroom 2 Community, I completed IELCE, IT Fundamentals, and Agile programs, and earned my ITF+ and Professional Scrum Master I (PSM-1) certifications. I currently volunteer as a TSA with C2C and work with Goozam Technologies as a Software Developer.

I remain consistently available to support other students whenever C2C requests assistance. I regularly help during classes and after class by leading study groups, guiding discussions, and encouraging students as they prepare for their ITF+ and Agile exams. I believe that helping others succeed strengthens the entire learning community.

My career goal is to become a Cloud Engineer and Data Engineer, and in the longer term, a Data Scientist. I aim to use cloud technology, data engineering, and geospatial analytics to address real-world challenges in environmental sustainability, land management, and climate resilience. I am especially motivated to create pathways for students in rural Ethiopia who still lose educational opportunities because of early marriage, conflict, and limited resources.

My C2C Agile training and PSM-1 certification continue to guide my professional growth. I now actively apply Agile principles within my software development team and in my collaborative activities, improving communication, teamwork, and project delivery.

My next steps include strengthening my cloud and data engineering skills, pursuing additional technical certifications, gaining more hands-on industry experience, and continuing to mentor and support other C2C students during and after class. I remain deeply committed to community service, both in the United States and, in the future, by teaching digital and data skills to rural students in Ethiopia.

This scholarship will not only support my professional growth; it will also amplify my ability to give back, uplift others, and build a career that creates opportunity where it is needed most.