Seattle Youths meet at Ethiopian Community Center

Young Ethiopians in Seattle met on Sunday June 12, 2011 at
the Ethiopian Community Center to discuss problems they encounter and if
possible come up with solutions to bring a positive change in their lives and
in their community.

The guest speakers include people who are willing to share
their experience of living in America and other foreign countries. They want to
work and exchange ideas with the Ethiopian youth in Seattle so that they learn
both from their failures and successes. The guest speakers include Dr. Alula Wasse, Mrs. Roman Akafete, Ato Gesahegn Negusse,
Ato Tsegaye Tasew and Ato Ashenafi
Abune. The meeting was chaired by Ms. Yemisratch Demissie who is one of
the promising young women of Seattle.

Ms. Demissie listed the reasons
why this kind of meeting is necessary. She enumerated a few of the main
problems among young Ethiopians who were born here in Seattle or came to
Seattle at an early age and grew up here. According to Mr. Demissie
the problems include lack of reliable information, a good number of young
Ethiopians going through the prison system, a communication gap with the older
generation, a clash of cultures between the young and the old, and an identity
crisis torn between Ethiopianism and the American
culture they grew up in. And they want to know all the problems of the youth in
the community as well as the likely solutions to these problems.

The first speaker was Mrs. Roman Akafete . She introduced
herself as a mother of four, author, public speaker, and internet marketer. The
interesting thing is that she is a self-taught person to achieve all of these
goals. Her narrative about the struggle she went through in America was a
little melancholic but was moving. It includes being unemployed and homeless.
Even though her life was difficult and at times unbearable, it is so evident in
her achievements, she came out a winner in the end.
Her message to the Ethiopian youth in Seattle: “ Life
is difficult in America. Don’t give up. I won. So can you.”

The next speaker was Dr. Alula Wasse.
He said he has a lot to say but not enough time. The reason?
He has lived in America for a whopping 43 years. This means all the Ethiopian
youth who were attending the meeting were not born when he came to America. He
expressed his excitement in the creation of this platform in order to pass on
his wisdom to young Ethiopians and his dream for them. For Dr. Wasse, the main issue is identity. He stressed the need to
change and think differently. He wants young Ethiopians to think like
Ethiopians first. He urges the youth to relate with each other reflecting
Ethiopian way of life and culture. His message to the Ethiopian youth in
Seattle: “ Nurture and develop ‘Ethiopianism’ as your main objective.”

Then came Ato
Gezahegn Negusse. He told
the not-so-easy life he had when he came to Seattle with his family in 2003
after spending ten years in Kenya and two years in England. He mentioned the
chronic problem he had of finding a job despite his educational background and
work experience. His message to the Ethiopian youth in Seattle: “ Have a well-balanced expectation of what America
provides. Unlike me, the youth in Seattle has enough information about America
at your disposal. So use it to your own advantage. Don’t panic when you go
through problems and be driven to drugs and other illegal activities. Use this
platform and solve your problems. Don’t give up hope too soon. Solve
your problems. Success is around the corner. “

Ato Tsega
Tasew was the next speaker. He told the youth at the
meeting to not panic. Instead to pray and ask help. He
narrated his background in Ethiopia working in white collar administrative jobs
including working with the well-known author, the late Ato
Addis Alemayehu. But coming to America, he did
everything that he had to do to survive even to the point of going to school to
learn welding to get a job despite his old age. His message to the Ethiopian
youth: “ Education should be the main agenda
for young men and women in Seattle. You should pay every sacrifice you need to
in order to be a professional in America. If not, your misery will follow you
up to the end. So get educated before everything else.”

The last speaker was Ato Ashenafi Abune. He has been here
in America only for three years. He came from Abudabi.
He was a pioneer who organized Ethiopians in Arab countries to fight for their
rights. He told the Ethiopian youth in Seattle how lucky they are for being in
America compared with the saga of Ethiopians he witnessed in the Arab
countries. According to Ato Ashenafi,
Ethiopians in Arab countries have to change their names into a Muslim one to
get a job. Most of them work as house maids from 16-17 hours a day and get paid
only $150.00 a month. Moreover, he told the youth at the meeting about the
sexual abuse Ethiopian women are subjected to in these Arab countries by their
employers that usually drive them to committing suicide. Ato
Ashenafi’s message to the Ethiopian youth in Seattle:
“ You are lucky. You live basking with
freedom in America. Have a plan. Be determined. You are the sons and daughters
of Ethiopia. Work hard. Get educated. And take over the community and help
Ethiopia and Ethiopians.”

Ms. Yemisratch Demisse
concluded the meeting by outlining the objectives of the youth platform in the
months and years to come. She also thanked the guest speakers for sharing their
priceless experiences. She expressed her hope to use their experience as a
guiding light for the Seattle youth in their quest to solve the challenges they
are facing including the critical issue of nurturing and developing ‘Ethiopianism’.