VISIONARY ERITREANS STANDING FOR ERITREA AT THE UNITED NATIONS YOUTH ASSEMBLY

EDITED BY: TESFAGABIR BERHE TESFU (GEORGE)

SOUTH AFRICA

Vanessa Berhe and Meron Semedar has successfully voiced the plight of Eritreans at the 14th Annual United Nations Youth Assembly (UNYA). The event took place at the United Nations headquarters in New York from 5 August to 9 August 2014.

During the event both delegates addressed the atrocities of the dictatorial regime on Eritreans residing both within the country and those in the Diaspora. They reminded the delegates the root cause of the exodus of young Eritreans to other African countries and beyond. They emphasized the Eritrean regime has failed dismally in empowering the Eritrean youth hence the only way the youth could respond to this is through fleeing from the country in numbers.

During the assembly, 550 young people from around the globe gathered to discuss on the Millennium Development Goals(MDG) and to share their roles in effecting change in their respective countries positively. Vanessa Berhe and Meron Semedar made Eritrea proud not only by representing the country but also by voicing out the main concern of Eritreans.

During the 11th assembly (last year) Eritrea was represented for the first time by Meron Semedar and he is now accompanied by Vanessa Berhe – the event takes place twice a year.

On a social venture that was created under the resolution project of the United Nations Meron Semedar stood as a representative of the Oakland/ Bay Area, California and gave a presentation about the groups venture. The venture, “Refugee Empowerment Program aimed at assisting Eritreans” managed to make it until the finals-hence it will be getting mentorship from those who work at the UN headquarters.

During cultural event of the assembly Meron Semedar gave cultural performance of Bilen song which most of the delegates joined him on stage. (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTbnDRKtd5w)

Vanessa Berhe also discussed about her activism- One day seyoum which many people were inspired by her work and pledged that they will make the cause of One Day Seyoum heard in their respective country. One day Seyoum is an initiative taken in a bid to facilitate the release of a veteran Eritrean journalist (Seyoum Tsehaye) from the dungeons of the dictatorial regime, he (along with more than 10 other journalists) have been detained from 18 September 2001 until today, in communicado and without due course of law.

When Meron Semedar was asked what motivated him to attend such event, he said he wanted to make sure the plight of the Eritrean youth gets recognition in the world, he also said he wanted to motivate other Eritrean youngsters to take advantage of such a platform not only to solve the Eritrean problems but also to take an active part in helping other countries to solve their domestic and international issues.

Both the delegates were warmly welcomed by the community members in New York and they were assisted by those residing in Washington DC metro area.