Register: May 1 & 2, 2026
2nd Annual Eritrean Diaspora Innovators Summit
Achieving a Mebrahti Mindset for Next-Gen Diaspora Leadership
You carry two worlds, raised between cultures, languages and expectations. You've always known there's something specific you're here to do.
EDIS 2026 is where second-generation Eritrean diaspora leaders come to get clear, get connected and get moving.
Hosted by The Diaspora Academy with CEO Semhar Araia
Register Today!
The Eritrean Diaspora Innovators Summit brings together second-generation Eritreans from across the globe: innovators, organizers, professionals, creatives, and changemakers who are are creating spaces that reflect who they actually are.
The Mebrahti Mindset asks a foundational question: What would you build if you led from your light? EDIS 2026 is designed to help you answer it.
✨Mebrahti means light, brilliance, and vision that is within you before anyone else sees it.✨
Over two powerful days, you'll hear from Eritrean diaspora leaders who have built careers, organizations, and movements on their own terms. You'll explore how to invest your time, talent, and treasure in ways that honor your heritage and activate your vision. You'll leave with frameworks, connections, and a plan you can run with.
EDIS is for those diaspora second-gens ready to create the spaces we wish existed, together.
This summit will help you:
- Shift your mindset and define success on your own terms
- Hear from second-gen Eritrean leaders across industries
- Connect with people who reflect your experience
- Embrace your heritage while honoring your individuality
✨Are you ready to join us and create the spaces we wish existed?✨
✨EDIS 2026 Program Overview✨
Two Days. Four Themes. One Movement.
Day 1: The Mebrahti Mindset
Leading with Clarity, Purpose, and Vision
Day 1 sets the tone and invites attendees to explore the power of our diasporic identities, discovering your purpose, and the power of being both Eritrean and something more.
Featured Sessions Include:
- The Power of Your Hyphenated Self: What Diaspora Leadership Looks Like Today
- The Mebrahti Mindset: Leading with Clarity and Purpose
- Between Leadership and Legacy: Navigating Expectations vs. Experiences
- Eritrean Values, Diaspora Sentiments: Strategies to Shape Your Path
- Eritrean Innovators Share their Secrets: How You Too Can Cut Through the Noise
- Breaking from Sineserat: How Everyday Leadership Changes Lives
Day 2: Ti'ina and Selam
Deepening Our Wellness & Community Collaboration
Day 2 is about protecting your energy, understanding the importance of healing and boundaries, and building community on your own terms without burning out.
Featured sessions include:
- Ti’ina and Selam: Centering wellness and mental health as core to diaspora leadership
- Hizbina, Hiwetna: Building bridges, showing up with care, and leading from the heart
- Arts, Storytelling, and Identity: Zanta and self-expression as tools for healing and transformation
- Zereba Roundtable: A live roundtable discussion for all attendees to share reactions and connect
- Kab Libina n Hizbina: Unlocking your deepest dreams
- It Takes All of Us: A conversation with second-gen Eritrean diaspora nonprofit leaders
Curated and hosted by The Diaspora Academy and CEO Semhar Araia
Why I Created the Eritrean Diaspora Innovators Summit
And Why You Should Be There!
What does it mean to be second-generation Eritrean living in the diaspora?
If you're like me, you know it means pride, layers of discovery and strength—and questions. How do we honor our heritage while navigating the expectations of the countries we now call home? How do we build community when our lives span generations, languages, cultures, and time zones?
The future is calling. Are you ready?
Join us virtually on Friday, May 1st and Saturday, May 2nd, 2026, from the comforts of your home, office or wherever you are. Let's build together.
Register Now
What to Expect:
✅ Powerful keynotes from global Eritrean diaspora innovators
✅ Masterclasses on leadership, entrepreneurship, professional growth, and creative ventures
✅ Networking opportunities with Eritrean diaspora attendees - including creatives, businesses, organizations and changemakers like you
✅ Real-world professional tools to take your diaspora passion into real impact from wherever you are
Who EDIS Is For:
The Eritrean Diaspora Innovators Summit is open to all, and specifically designed for:
- Second-generation Eritreans in the diaspora,
- People of Eritrean descent born abroad or who immigrated as a minor,
- Individuals of Eritrean descent who are:
- Navigating life between cultures
- Proud of their Eritrean heritage
- Seeking meaning, success, and community in the diaspora,
- Friends and allies seeking to create more fulfilling lives, careers, and communities in the diaspora, and/or
- Anyone eager to explore what it means to lead, contribute, and thrive while honoring their diaspora journey
What EDIS Will Do For You
EDIS is your space to get grounded, find like-minded inspiration, and consider new ways to consider your .
Attendees will:
- Hear from next-gen Eritrean diaspora innovators who’ve built success on their own terms
- Learn diaspora leadership and changemaker skills
- Explore how to balance personal dreams with cultural expectations
- Leave with a renewed sense of direction, pride, and possibility
Choose Your EDIS Experience
Hizbi General Level:
New to the space? This is your entry point. Get the inspiration, access, and energy you need to get started.
✔️ Live summit access (May 1 & 2)
✔️ Keynotes and community conversations
✔️ Full speaker lineup
✔️ Lifetime replays
Jigna VIP Level:
Ready to lead boldly? The Jigna VIP Level is for the changemakers ready to take it deeper.
✨ Everything in Hizbi Level, plus:
✔️ One-hour coaching session with Semhar on diaspora issues
✔️ Post-summit content and speaker access
✔️ Downloadable TDA tools and guides
✔️ $1,000+ in exclusive bonuses
✨Partner With EDIS✨
Become a Vendor
Showcase your products and services to EDIS 2026 attendees.
👉🏾 Click below to apply as a vendor and secure your spot at EDIS 2026.
Become a Sponsor
Support EDIS 2026 to spotlight Eritrean diaspora innovation, leadership, and impact.
👉🏾 Click below to explore sponsorship opportunities.
Join as an Affiliate
Earn rewards by partnering with us and sharing EDIS 2026 with your network.
👉🏾 Click below to sign up as an affiliate partner today.
Volunteer with Us
Be part of the team bringing EDIS 2026 to life.
👉🏾 Click below to volunteer and help shape this year’s summit.
