Founder; Wolete Gabriel Sheriff, DO, MS, FFL, PAS 

Co-Founder; Kibret Boreland, MPA 

Email; orthodoxGEMS@gmail.com

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The Orthodox GEMS (St. Gabriel’s Empowering Mentoring, and Solidarity) Organization, founded in October 2011, is a non-profit subset of the Debre Ganet Kidus Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The GEMS Organization’s goals are to implement programs that will improve the moral of the young females (ages 10 and above) in the church. It is to foster a committed program that will promote amicable friendships, strong interpersonal skills, and reassert a strong sense of faith and hope for the future. Only through positive and reinforcing relationships and strong self-worth and self-respect can these young women understand their roles in their church, families, school, professional, and social realms. The Orthodox GEMS Organization is a direct response to the growing rate of females that are feeling as if they are not heard, appreciated and respected in the community on a whole. We believe strongly that the enhancement of any young female’s ability to prosper, succeed and thrive, starts with understanding and increasing their beliefs and within the notion that love and respect begins with “me”. 

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We aim to increase each of the females’ knowledge of our Holy Mother St. Virgin Mary, and other vital women of the faith and world at large and their contribution to our faith, legacy and role as women. Also to become sounder in understanding our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ the Archangels and the Holy Days that coincide with our faith. We also aim to expose the females to unique opportunities to participate in social and educational workshops, attend leadership conferences, and facilitate programs and events. We believe it is our goal to teach the young females many valuable principles such as reverence, responsibility, social interaction, financial awareness and sisterhood, which we judge to be strong factors that will lead to a bright and successful future for each GEMS member. We are constantly seeking ways to collaborate with other organizations and youth groups. We want to enhance their experiences and increase their opportunities, as well as, continue on the path of networking, empowering and community involvement. 

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Mission: GEMS program pursuit is based upon the following principles:

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Faith: Emulating Our Holy Mother lays the foundation sets forth a template of how we can respect our self and receive respect from others. 

Education: Implement our very own scholarship in honor of our late Archbishop Abuna Yesehaq to a first year college bound participant and host a graduation celebration honoring our graduates 

Empowerment: Foster confident young women who will develop stable and respectful relationships with dignity and pride enabling them the will to succeed.

Mentorship: Prepare the young girls to be future leaders, role models and professionals 

Solidarity: Provide a positive, confidential, amicable and friendly environment, where the girls are free to express themselves and be heard at all times

Community Service: Engage them in myriad of activities that allows them to enhance their own ideas and create meaningful projects that will also affect the community.

 

Outreach

2011-present: Newark Emergency Services for Families Drive. Yearly we collect clothing and nonperishable items to donate to families in need

2012: Costa Rica Medical Supply Drive - In conjunction with Dr. Sheriff and International Service Learning, provided medical supplies to underserved patients. 

2012: Hurricane Sandy Relief - Collected clothing and nonperishable items to dispersed families 

2013: Community and Family Health and Nutrition Expo

In conjunction with Dr. Sheriff and East Orange Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs, orchestrated a health fair which provided live Zumba and capoeira demonstrations, firefighter demonstration, healthy foods, information booths and testing of hypertension and diabetes along with games for kids and live music

2014: Ethiopia Orphanage School Supplies and Hospice Care Medical Supplies Drive

In Conjunction with Dr. Sheriff and Love Volunteers, collected school supplies and collected over $800 to donate to the AHOPE and Kidane Mehret Children's Home. Also provided medical supplies to hospice patients.

2015-2017: Grove Manor Senior Citizen Home - Yearly, provided food and song selections to the seniors

2016: Hurricane Matthew Haiti Fundraiser and Drive

Collected clothing and nonperishable items for dispersed families

2017: Hurricane Irma/Maria Puerto Rico and Dominica Fundraiser and Drive - Collected clothing and nonperishable items for dispersed families

2017: Jamaica Relief Drive - Collected clothing and nonperishable items for dispersed families

 

Fundraisers

2012-current: Orthodox GEMSArchbishop Abuna Yesehaq Scholarship Fund - Yearly raffle in which the proceeds benefit a first year college recipient

2012-2015: Holiday Tasty Treats - In conjunction with Supreme Bakery in West Orange, sold baked goods to family and friends 

2016: Orthodox GEMS Pen - Sold pens engraved with our logo and name to family and friends 

2015-2017: Sunday Sales - One Sunday a month, either by cooking or baking, the females sold food and drinks to the congregation 

 

Retreats

2012: New York - All expense day out in the city with shopping, movies and lunch

2013: New Jersey - All expense day out in NJ at Funplex and lunch  

2016: District of Columbia - All expense paid weekend in DC learning about historic landmarks and figures, visiting museums and team-building exercise at the escape room and other adventures