From: michael seium (michael.seium@gmail.com)
Date: Sat Sep 05 2009 - 06:10:12 EDT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*5th annual YPFDJ Conference In North America begins with a bang.*
*Washington D.C Metro - - The 5th annual YPFDJ conference kicked off on
Friday September 4th, 2009 at 9:00 AM in the Morning just outside of
Washington D.C. As it is the ritual each year, the conference began with the
ever important “Zikrie Sematat” and the raising of the Eritrean Flag and the
national anthem outside of the conference center. In an opening address to
the over 500 youth & guests from throughout the United States, Canada, &
Europe his Excellency Saleh Meky minister of Integrated Coastal Development
along with his Excellency ambassador Ghirmai Ghebremariam, Eritrean
ambassador to the United States of America, spoke of the importance of YPFDJ
as an organization and the role it plays to help develop Eritrea. Minister
Saleh, emphasized that he was very proud to see the growth of YPFDJ into a
viable & organized movement that has been playing a big role in building a
strong, conscious & patriotic youth movement. He said in his address, “It
was not too long ago, that Eritrean youth who played a major role in the
independence of Eritrea were getting together to help free their country” He
went on to add that “YPFDJ today reminds me of the great movement of past
and it gives me great pleasure to see that the torch is being carried by you
today’s young” in reference to the attendees.*
After the honored guests spoke briefly, the DC area chapter of Hidri as
hosts opened the conference by welcoming the guests in the nine different
Eritrean languages. It was then on to a variety of entertainment ceremonies
after which the YPFDJ chapters throughout North America and Europe gave
their annual presentations. As this portion of the conference seems to grow
each year, the many different chapters continue to get creative by coming up
with new ideas in the spirit of competitiveness.
Then in the evening hours, the event came to a close for the day after a
very important and educational documentary of an up and close personal
experience of a young lady born in the North America who had just recently
finished her national service in Eritrea. The topic of discussion focused on
“Brain Drain” and was very interesting. Many of the youth participants got
emotional and were inspired to do the same as the young lady. There were
also many other great presentations today. The conference will continue
tomorrow with seminars and educational workshops as well as the very popular
traditional outfit party slated for the evening hours. The 5th annual YPFDJ
conference will end on Sunday evening with a planned guyla as a closing
ceremony to go along with the 48th annual Bahti Meskerem celebrations.
YPFDJ Media Committee.