Shabait.com: The young voices

In the past month long editions, Q&A took on the quest to bring you people that have stories worth being shared. We took on interviewing people from the previous generations that lived through the war for independence and the latest one of the Ethiopian offences. A freedom fighter or not, a soldier or not, every Eritrean did/ does contribute and sacrifice so much to the last breath, to safeguard the nation’s honor while guarantying younger generations a country with no bullet, where no child suffers. 

Inversely, today Q&A, brings you young boys and girls born after the independence. They do not have cheerless stories of war or destruction rather youthful and jovial experiences that they are willing to share with Q&A. Let’s see what these amazing youth are doing in the free, sovereign and peaceful country assured and secured to them by previous generations.

 

Mussie Menghistaab (21) 
Student in the College of Marine Sciences

Hi I am Mussie, I was born in 1995 so I am 21 years old and I am a student in the Marine Sciences College in Massawa. You ask me what freedom means to me and I don’t know where to begin because in Eritrea ‘freedom’ is not just a word. I hear the elders speak and freedom for them is something that they worship, and so do I. 

Personally freedom, independence and being born in a free country, to me it means being able to go to school, having so many friends and enjoy brotherhood. 

My school is in the port city of Massawa, so my friends from the college and I always go to the shores and swim for hours after class. It is just amazing! The weather is awesome, the waters are clean, there are plenty of fishes, islands are so appealing, yum grilled sea food and there is so much to do. 

We love it so much, and we are not the only ones, in fact many young people come to Massawa on the weekends and holidays, and it is really enjoyable. Back in the days Eritreans were neglected of walking down the main avenues, let alone have a chance to enjoy the natural beauty of their own country! And we all know of it in depth. 

As such I know being Eritrean, I have a duty to honor previous generations’ martyrdom while freeing our country in the war for independence and also during the war with Ethiopia. I honestly don’t remember much of it but I have friends and families that lost parents and children so it is only natural for me to know all about it, Eritrean martyrs paid their lives for us to be as free as we want. As such, what I set as my priority is to do as best I can in school and I also believe that, what they wanted for us the most was, happiness, and we are, very much in fact so, and I appreciate it. 

In addition there are many older youth, like our older brothers and sisters who are working every day to develop the country, to construct infrastructures and buildings, schools, hospitals and they do much more to serve the people… I am grateful and my peers are too. 

I wish thousands and thousands and many, many more years of good fortune for the people of Eritrea. Happy Independence Day! 

Merhawi Kudus (23) 
Professional rider of Dimetion Data

I miss home every day. I miss rushing down riding my bike through the serpent roads to Massawa and Keren, while the wind blows against my speed. 

Whenever I went out of the city (Asmara), during my training sessions, I’d go to many places and everywhere I went I didn’t have to worry and felt at home. If I ask for food I have it, water is extremely guaranteed and if I want to rest it is always okay. You don’t have to be related by blood, follow the same religion or speak the same language; every woman is your mother, every man is your father and you get to have millions of brothers and sisters. This is what freedom means to me. 

I miss my family, friends and the amazing people, even though we don’t know each other on a personal level we say hi and pass greetings to each other every time we see one another. That is just how it is in my country especially in Asmara, because that is where I am from, everyone is familiar with one other. I miss the sincere smiles of the society I grew up in. 

I was born in a free country, of which, at least one person in a family is a martyr. It gives me pride and courage to tell that I am an Eritrean everywhere I go, it also gives me motive to do my best in what I do and not let down my fans and my people; because I know and I even feel that I have every one’s support. 

My deepest most heartfelt greetings to every Eritrean. Every single one is doing due part in developing and safeguarding the country; my words would be too little to express my gratitude for the Eritrean youth. I am certain that this silver jubilee is something like a prologue for the perpetual happily ever after. 

Arsema Tekie (20) 
Student recent high school graduate

I recently graduated from high school in Accounting stream and now I am looking to take the next step in college. However I really don’t know what I want and which college to attend, it is more likely for me to study political sciences or social sciences. In September I will be a college student! I am beyond excited, aside education, what thrills me the most is getting to be with students from all over the country. 

We Eritreans, we live to live together. We love being together and I know I will have so much to learn from my future college mates, that come from different cities, towns and different ethnic groups of different colleges. I told myself that if I do great in school I will learn one, at least one ethnic language. Colleges in Eritrea are scattered around the country, all outside of Asmara and this is a good opportunity for us to travel and come together like one big family. 

What does freedom mean to me? Uhm… I hear of girls in different African countries being stopped from going to school because armed troops rape them. But here, it is different, so to me freedom would definitely mean not fearing of anything happening to me and young girls like me, even if we are out in the evenings and away from home. 

I don’t know what I will do when I grow up but I will certainly put to good use my education serving the people. After all it is only right to give back to a generous society that provides free schooling for everyone! 

For the Eritrean people, I’d like to tell them how much thankful I’m for teaching me how to love, not be selfish and respect anybody as my own self. I am a decent youth like the millions Eritreans of my time because of the most humane society on the face of earth. I wish us, perpetual happiness! 

Regaat Tesfamichale 
Political Sciences graduate, works at the NUEW

Freedom to me is going out in the morning knowing that I will be back. The independence of Eritrea goes far beyond freeing the country from foreign aggression, it is a testimonial of humanity. As we nourished values of equality no matter the gender, ethnicity, religions and skin color. Young men and women of previous generations gracefully gave up their lives, in the most important years. They could have done so much more than throwing away families and dreams in the search of freedom. 

So for us it is a renewal of innate pledges made amongst nationals to not let go of what we’ve achieved and what we’re aiming for as one big force. 

Tesfahiwet kahsai (25)
Mining Engineering graduate

I haven’t lived before the independence and I haven’t participated in the last war against Ethiopia either but that doesn’t mean, me or young Eritreans are clueless of our history. The fact that we are conscious makes our sense of identity immensely strong. Our country is a like a baby taking small steps and we all know it is our duty to assist it. 

Speaking of duties and responsibilities, we are very aware of the fact that for thirty years, our freedom fighters died while fighting to get us out of suppression, and recently younger ones too followed their lead to avoid the same history being repeated. As such, youth of today we might be young yet very sharp, for us is a moral value, a call we don’t ignore. 
As the Eritrean independence is of great value to everyone, I direct  my greetings to Eritreans all over the world. Happy Independence Day!