Eritrean Youths from the Diaspora express their love for orphaned children
Efrem Habtetsion, Aug 19, 2008
Being a visitor to the Asmara Orphanage, most of the kids hold close to you and ask for a hug, a pen or a notebook or for love. You see two young visitors whom they knew the names of all the kids. They gave hugs to everyone and every one of the kids calls their names and sits around them. They share their love and caring with them; and they regularly provide what they can to help those little kids who are under five years.
This summer season, many Eritrean youths from the Diaspora spent a lot of time visiting the Orphan Center in Asmara. Some of them were extraordinarily active in helping the kids; young people like Degen Okbay from UK and Lehem Fessehai from Sweden.
Yesterday August 18, 2008, Degen Okbay, his parents, Yonas Kidanemariam and other Eritreans arranged an informal entertainment party at the Asmara Orphan Center. They expressed their love to the little kids that need a help.
“The Eritrean youths have expressed their love to the orphans. Some of them have continuously visited the orphanage and have done what they could during their stay in Eritrea,” said Mr. Irmias Tsegay, head of the Asmara Orphan Center.
“The initiative they took is really remarkable. They provided the kids with substantial morale and material assistance and above all have shown their sympathy to their needy ones,” he added.
It was in Milano, Italy, that Eritrean youths Yonas Kidanemariam, Elena Yebio and Fnan Gebretsion arranged a party to raise money for orphans in Eritrea. During the occasion youths from 18 to 30 years old were present. About 24,000 Nakfa was collected and sent to the orphans.
“We visited the Center and asked about what basic things that we could supply with the money. Of course, we observed that the kids are being raised well, and what we could do was making a little contribution,” said Yonas Kidanemariam from Milano.
“Although we knew that there are orphans in Eritrea, we didn’t expect to see them being cared to this degree. They have all the basic facilities and they look healthy. We just have to help the government and our people in that manner,” he said.
According to Mr. Irmias, the motivation of the youths is of social consciousness. “Knowing about orphans in their country, what the youth have done shows the attachment and caring young Eritreans have to their people,” he said.
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“It is about humanity and its role in building a society is important. If the youth take such personal initiatives to help their people, it indicates that we have a promising young generation,” he underlined.
During this summer many youths from the Diaspora spent their time visiting the orphan center in Asmara and group homes in different parts. It is their personal initiative and the contact they established among each other that helped them know and bear greater responsibility while they visit their country.
“Most of us used to spend our time and money mainly on entertainment while being here. Not many of us knew about orphans in the country or identified areas that we could lend a hand. So, it is the weakness of the youth organizers or concerned bodies for not arranging programs that could increase the contribution of the youth from the Diaspora,” said an Eritrean from the United States.
Haregu Gebreyohannes who came from Milano, said that her daughter, Elena Yebio, along with other Eritreans arranged a party in Milano whereby they could make some contribution to the orphans. Since her daughter did not come to Eritrea this year, she came to represent her in the entertainment program at the orphan center.
Degen is an exemplary youth who took full initiative in supporting the orphans along with Lehem Fessehai from Sweden this summer season. “He is the hero,” Yonas describes Degen for what he has been doing for the orphans and in facilitating the program. When their visit to the orphan center was broadcast on Eri-TV, it drew the attention of many Eritrean youngsters in the Diaspora and increased their concern for the orphans.
Mrs. Haregu said that the youth in Milano who have taken the motivation are exemplary. “Although the government is doing its level best, helping the kids is everyone’s responsibility,” she said. “I can see that they need a help. The houses are clean, but we need to provide cleaning materials, shoes, clothes and other items that need to be available every now and then,” she added.
I sympathized with them. You need utmost care when you are a kid. Of course, I can see that they are well looked after. But when you know they are orphans you just feel something. I really want to appreciate what the government is doing and it is everyone’s role to help,” said Haregu who visits Eritrea every year.
This is my first time to come to the orphanage. It was my daughter who told me about it. Although I knew there is an orphanage in Asmara, I haven’t considered visiting it before. It is very interesting and encouraging to see our young take such socially conscious initiatives for their people,” she said.
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Speaking about the party they arranged in Milano, Yonas Kidanemariam, said that they invited some Eritrean youths for a party and told them about the plan where they contributed 23,870 Nakfa during that night.
“At first Elena and I thought to send cloths to the orphans. But we also needed others to participate. So, we arranged the party that helped many people participated and know what is going on,” Yonas said.
They bought some facilities for the Orphanage and the orphans. They also fixed some of the money for the mothers who work in the Center with little payment but enthusiastically.
Regarding his future plans Yonas said that at first he considered it tiresome to go and meet people in Milano to arrange the occasion. “But when I come here and met the orphans I became more encouraged to do my best to help them and I am sure everyone there would do that,” he said.
Okbay Fremedhn from Rome, Italy, also said that he wishes to see every Eritrean in the Diaspora make a contribution to help the orphans. “I can see it is an important center and it is well organized. It would have been more successful if all Eritreans and especially those in the Diaspora play their role,’ he said.
“It isn’t an assignment for the government alone; rather it is what the society should contribute their role. I think we have to consider it,” said Mr. Okbay.
Commenting on the initiatives taken by the youth Mr. Okabay said that it is not a simple issue to see the youth hold such a responsibility by themselves. “Had the youth been provided with enough information and guidance, they could do remarkable contribution to their people.”
Eritreans can send different materials for the orphan center and orphans in group homes in different parts of the country. It is a noble deed to see youths making considerable contribution to those who are in need. It is a matter of creating awareness and identifying work ground for the youth that enable them increase their input.
Adoption is the basic principle of the government in regards to orphans and only Eritreans are eligible to adopt Eritrean children. This year, nine children have been adopted which marked a good progress. Next to adoption is creating group homes to the orphans where they would be able to live within the community, share their culture and receive social services. There are many group homes throughout the country at the moment.
Mr. Irmias, head of the Asmara Orphan Center, also recognized the continuous effort and motivation of about 15 medical school students from Orotta Medical School in helping the orphans. “These young citizens have been teaching and providing medical assistance to the orphans. Even during their tight schedule, they regularly spend about four hours with the orphans,” he said.
