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In this episode, I'm speaking with Fikru Kebede , an Ethiopian artist who moved to Canada as a refugee after ethnic and religious conflicts made it impossible for him to continue his life and artistic career in his homeland.
One of my biggest takeaways from our conversation is how Fikru handles negative experiences. When faced with discrimination on the public transit, rather than feeling like a victim, he chose to focus on spreading positive energy instead of absorbing and transferring the frustration to another person.
“When you manifest positive vibes, you receive positivity,” he explains. This philosophy has helped him navigate the challenges of building a new life in a country where, as he puts it, "everyone lives on their sides" rather than in the communal way he was accustomed to in Ethiopia.
In this conversation, Fikru and I chat about adapting to the Canadian way of life. We also explore:
Being realistic about one’s expectations as an immigrant
How his artistic style is evolving in Canada
The differences between the Ethiopian and Western painting styles
How Impakt Foundation changed his life
Finding internal peace through audiobooks
Official Links
✅ Connect with Fikru on LinkedIn
✅ Explore Fikru’s work
✅ Read about Impakt Foundation’s approach to newcomer support
One Ask
If you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.
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