Eeva Irene Raaste, Finnish architect, artist, and educator, taught at Addis Ababa University during the early 1980s and was a member of Blue Nile Toastmasters Club. She reflects on how the art of communication and diplomacy are vital in shaping a better world.
Eeva Irene Raaste, Finnish architect, artist, and educator, who taught at Addis Ababa University during the early 1980s and was a member of Blue Nile Toastmasters Club. At 81 years old, she now resides in Finland.
A Journey from Finland to Ethiopia
When Finnish architect and educator Eeva Irene Raaste arrived in Ethiopia in April 1981, she could not have known that the experience would leave a lasting impression on both her professional and personal life. Drawn to Ethiopia through a bilateral cooperation agreement between the Finnish and Ethiopian governments, Raaste spent several years teaching at Addis Ababa University's Faculty of Technology, where she shared her expertise in architectural history and communication skills with a new generation of students.
Born in Finland on December 28, 1945, Raaste earned a Master of Science degree in Architecture and cultivated a wide range of interests throughout her life. Her passions span ballet and modern dance, sculpture, painting, poetry, architectural history, cosmological studies, and the exploration of life's deeper meanings.
At Addis Ababa University, then known as the Building College within the Faculty of Technology, Raaste served as a Visiting Lecturer and Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture and Town Planning. Among the courses she taught was History of Architecture, a subject she approached from both technical and philosophical perspectives. Her curriculum explored ancient civilizations, sacred geometry, symbolism, and the evolution of architectural styles through history.
Discovering Blue Nile Toastmasters
It was during her time in Ethiopia that she was introduced to Toastmasters. The invitation came from Ato Mekuria Tafesse, an international lawyer who was also a close family friend. Raaste joined Toastmasters in the spring of 1983 and became a member of Blue Nile Toastmasters Club, which held its meetings at the Addis Ababa Hilton.
Her future husband, Paavo Pitkänen, worked in Ethiopia first with the International Red Cross and later with the United Nations Disaster Relief Organization (UNDRO). Through these connections, Ethiopia became more than a temporary assignment. It became a place of friendship, learning, and inspiration.
Lessons Beyond Public Speaking
Her primary motivation for joining Toastmasters was straightforward: she wanted to become a better speaker. What she gained, however, extended far beyond public speaking techniques.
For Eeva, Toastmasters provided valuable lessons in diplomacy, organization, and respectful dialogue skills that remain as relevant today as they were four decades ago.
While time has dimmed some memories of specific club members, several names remain familiar. She remembers Ato Mekuria Tafesse, Cyrilla, Nicolas Bwakira, Elias, Tadele, and Tilahun among those she encountered during her participation. Meetings at the Addis Ababa Hilton brought together diplomats, professionals, academics, and international development practitioners, creating an environment where members could sharpen their communication and leadership skills.
Although she never encountered formal advertising for Toastmasters, the organization appeared to grow through professional networks and personal invitations. During that era, access to international professional communities often depended on personal connections, particularly in a city that hosted major international institutions and diplomatic missions.
A Legacy of Communication and Diplomacy
Looking back, Eeva sees Blue Nile Toastmasters as something beyond a public speaking club. Its legacy lies in strengthening communication, leadership, and mutual understanding among people from different backgrounds.
"For me, its legacy represents an important means to improve communication," she reflects. "What could be more important in the current state of the world when the art of diplomacy seems to be lost in half of the world?"
Ethiopia Through an Artist's Eyes
Today, her memories of Ethiopia remain vivid, not only through friendships and professional experiences but also through art.
The country's landscapes inspired several of her paintings, including scenes from Awash National Park and Dire Dawa. These works were later exhibited in Helsinki, where she shared her artistic interpretation of Ethiopia with Finnish audiences.
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Words of Wisdom for Future Toastmasters
Eeva believes future generations of Toastmasters should look beyond technical speaking skills and study history's greatest communicators from Demosthenes to Socrates to understand what made them influential. Yet eloquence alone is not enough.
She emphasizes the importance of sincerity, ethics, morality, and truthfulness in communication. Great speaking, she suggests, is ultimately rooted in character.
TM Mekdes Tamrat
TM Mekdes Tamrat is a versatile professional with experience in project implementation, driven by a strong commitment to positive social impact. She has worked across diverse sectors, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to her work. TM Mekdes is actively engaged in leadership and community development as a Rotaractor and Toastmaster. She is known for her collaborative spirit and genuine passion for supporting others, taking pride in contributing to people’s growth and celebrating their achievements. She also has a keen interest in exploring histories, including her curiosity for understanding and documenting the evolution of Blue Nile Toastmasters.