Vol. 26 No. 59 Saturday, September 21, 2019 Pages 8, Price 2.00...

Vol. 26 No. 59 Saturday, September 21, 2019 Pages 8, Price 2.00 NFA

The Ministry of Education organized annual activity assessment meeting on 19 and 20 September here in the capital Asmara.

Noting that the objective of conducting assessment meeting is to identify strengths and challenges encountered and give due attention to find solution for the bottlenecks, Mr. Petros Hailemariam representing the Minister of Education called on the participants to forward

The Forestry and Wildlife Authority reported that the number of elephants in the country that was 15 according to the study conducted in 1996 has currently reached to 250.

44 thousand hectares of land has been reserved for elephants in the Laelai Gash area and Mr. Fitsum Hagos, Head of Wildlife Development and Conservation, said that there is a plan to build micro-dams in the sub-zones of Laelai Gash and Gogni with a view to alleviating the problem that may occur related to water supply.

Mr. Fitsum also called on all concerned institutions and individual to strengthen participation in controlling illegal killing of elephants and cross border trade and ensure their safety and development.

Noteworthy activities have been carried out to eradicate harmful practices and community based environmental sanitation activities in which over 160 thousand people participated, according to reports from an assessment meeting conducted in Medefera on 18 and 19 September

The meeting was attended by over 100 members of village committees from 12 sub-zones of the Southern region, Administrators of the sub-zones and heads of the regional administration.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Kaleab Tesfaselasie, Director General of Social Services in the region, said that the Committee for Ensuring the Rights of Children has conducted awareness raising program for over 83 thousand people and community based environmental sanitation for over 80 thousand people.

Dr. Amanuel Mehreteab, Head of the Ministry of Health branch in the region, also said that the effort to eradicate harmful practices and introduction of community based environmental sanitation activities have significantly contributed in ensuring the health of the society and in the reduction of communicable diseases in the region.

Mr. Osman Abdulkadir, Head of the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students branch in the Southern Red Sea region called on the heads and owners of institutions in the region to strengthen contribution in the effort being made to strengthen organizational capacity of the youth.

Mr. Osman made the call at a meeting conducted with heads of line ministries and PFDJ.

Noting that the number of graduates from colleges and other vocational centers assigned to the region is growing, Mr. Osman said that strengthening organizational capacity will have significant contribution in developing the capacity and productivity of the youth. Mr. Osman added that the union is working by designing various programs and called for reinforced contribution for their implementation.

Ambassador Mohammed-Seid Mantai, Governor of the region, on his part called on the youth to develop their capacity and strengthen participation in the implementation of charted out development programs.

A seminar on the successful implementation of meningitis vaccination program in the Southern Red Sea region was conducted on 16 and 17 September in the port city of Assab. The objective of the seminar was to identify the role and responsibility of public institutions and the public as well as to the resources needed for the implementation of the program.

Speaking at the occasion, Ambassador Mohammed-Seid Mantai, Governor of the region, said that ample experience had been gained through the vaccination programs previously conducted and that all necessary resources will be deployed for the successful implementation of the program.

Noting that meningitis is a killer diseases, Mr. Tedros Yihdego, Head of Vaccination Program at the Ministry of Health, said that the objective of the program is to eradicate the prevalence of the diseases and that the children and youth from 1 to 30 years of age will receive anti-meningitis vaccination and Vitamin A will be distributed to infants from 6 to 9 months.

Pointing out that the sustainable awareness raising program has significant contribution in raising the understanding of the public, Mr. Mohammed Nagus from the Ministry of Health branch in the region expressed confidence that the program will be implemented with efficiency.

At the meeting vaccination centers were identified and a consensus was reached to conduct the vaccination program from 15 to 30 October.

The meeting was attended by health professionals, administrators of sub-zones, heads of line ministries and national associations.

Seminar on implementation of meningitiS vaccination programYouth Seminar

in the SrSr

miniStrY of education: activitY aSSeSSment meeting

number of elephantS in eritrea increaSe bY 10 foldS

commendable effort in eradicating harmful practiceS

constructive ideas.

Branch offices of the Ministry of Education from the six regions and Sawa Warsai Yikealo School, in addition to the Vocational training Center presented reports focusing on the timely beginning of the school year, distribution of school materials, result of students in the school leaving and eight grade national exams, school participation of female students, the situation of boarding schools, students summer work program,

schools’ renovation, progress of adult education as well as cultural and sports activities.

With regards the Warsai Yikealo School and Vocational Training Center in Sawa it was reported that the timely distribution of school materials significantly contributed to the beginning of the school year on the right time.

Mr. Fistum went on to say that in August this year Eritrea has become member of the Elephants Safety Organization of Africa and that the official signing of membership will be held in the near future.

The Elephants Safety Organization of Africa was established in 2014 by Ethiopia, Botswana, Chad and Gabon comprises 37 African countries.

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Aida Johar

2 Vol. 26 No. 59 Eritrea Profile, Saturday, September 21, 2019

Simon Weldemichael

The main problem with many developing countries comes from the failure of governments to make the right choice, cautious treatment and commitment to cultural matters. The authorities in power underestimate the value of culture in development, security and defence. The capacity of a nation to survive is highly dependent on the prevailing cultural values. Many scholars maintain that culture has a huge impact on human beings in any society. Culture helps human beings to adapt to the social and natural environment and increase their chances of survival.

Culture constitutes every human activity including social, economic, moral, religious, political, philosophical and technological values. According to Tylor, culture is a ‘complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and

Culture and National Securityhabits acquired by man as a member of society.’ Culture is not only the material aspect of the society. Downs defines culture as a mental map that guides us in our relations with our surroundings and with other people. Therefore we can say that culture is the totality of humanity that gives order and meaning to human activity.

Culture and national security have direct relations. A country that develops and preserves its culture has high probability of achieving greater levels of national security. A nation may be considered secure if there is a high probability of the occurrence of its preferred national values and high ethical standards. Every nation has its own culture of security and protection mechanism that guide and ensure peace and order within the society. Culture as the totality of the way of life of a people has enormous security influence on the nation. For example, we can say that the diversity and unity of the Eritrean culture is the foundation of the existing peace and stability.

The constructive traits of the Eritrean culture such as discipline, honesty, a strong work ethic, initiative, inventiveness, self-sufficiency and loathing of dependence as outlined in the national charter of Eritrea, are our source of pride and strength. The Eritrean culture characterized

by love of country, respect for humanity, love of truth and justice, self-reliance, respect for law, solidarity between men and women and self-confidence are indispensable for national prosperity and security.

The diverse cultures of Eritrea have been the source of power, unity, beauty and security. National security is concerned with the survival, peace and progress of the society as a whole, and a prudent cultural policy is an important instrument that helps achieve sustainable security. The concept of unity in diversity of Eritrea is a reflection of a

tolerant cultural policy designed to channel the collective behavior of the people in the direction that maximizes national objectives. We should, therefore, renew our commitment to develop a tolerant and democratic culture based upon the culture developed during the struggle for independence that rejects divisive, backward and narrow sentiments.

In Eritrea every national policy, from education to defense, takes into account the culture of the Eritrean people. All development and security measures are based on the national identity and culture of Eritrea. The material, spiritual

and security needs of Eritreans can only be achieved after the development of the Eritrean culture. A strong national culture is the foundation of a developed economy, a modern political system and reliable peace. No society has become prosperous without having a climate of peace, and there cannot be peace without developing a peaceful culture.

Security like culture is not easy to define. But for the sake of convenience let’s put security as an absence of threat to territorial integrity and sovereignty, independence, socioeconomic interests and political stability. Up until now there exists no cloud of fear in the sky of Eritrea. Many attempts have been made to demolish our cherished values. However, the extraordinary resistance of the Eritrean people has foiled all the evil attempts that threatened our survival. After Eritrea has triumphed against all kinds of trickery and subversion, the deaf ears and blind eyes of the world are open to hear and see the action of Eritrea.

The strength of an army is measured more by the culture than by its training and weaponry. The culture of discipline, faith and commitment are the best assets of the Eritrean defense forces. The culture of heroism and

continued on page 5


Natnael Yebio W.

The weather is turning, the days are getting shorter... and for some of us, the summer holidays are almost all gone. You never really lose the taste of a new school year starting, do you? No matter how long since you actually had to swap the long, carefree days of summer for uniform, new pens and the embrace of the classroom, that first sense of the leaves turning, triggers the memories of the beginning of the school year. For some of us, the memories are warm; others went to school unwillingly.

Recently, during one of our unbearably hot days, my little siblings and I watched movies all afternoon while eating cookies. We may have set a new record of sitting in the couch for long, but we didn’t feel guilty. We had nothing important to do and nowhere that we had to be. It was the quintessential lazy summer day, and we had a blast.

After a summer of sleeping in or doing things on your own

School is back in Session!time, the ringing of the alarm bell announcing that first day of school can be a rude wake-up call whether you’re an anxious first grader or a confident high school student. Dread it or love it, you got to go to school. This week Eritrean students have been getting ready for the upcoming school year, and so too have my four lazy siblings. After the summer holiday they have had, with no set of rules about when to go to bed, when to wake up, when to study, when to do homework, you can now see the gloomy looks on their faces when you tell them the start of the new school year, next Monday, is right around the corner.

“Michael……where are you, you little devil?” screams the worried mother.

“He is still out playing with his friends,” says the older brother.

“It’s 7 in the evening and he is still outside; thank God I only have to put up with this for two more days, then he is back to school,” says the agitated mother

trying to console herself.

The idea of going back to school is often met with a combination of excitement and dread. On the one hand, you get to see all your friends again, catch up on all the latest gossip and share your holiday stories. On the other hand, though, it means getting back to studying, doing homework and getting out of bed early. For mothers it is a joy. The new school year couldn’t come any sooner. The idea of not having to run after kids in the house or outside is a thrill.

The months of July and August are summer holidays in Eritrea as is in many parts of the world. By early September, as the rainy season approaches the end, Eritrean students are getting ready to start school. That old uniform, which was thrown at the other end of the closet when school was closed, is now being fetched out and ironed, and those who have outgrown their uniform over the summer are taken to the family tailor and fitted for a new uniform before the new school

year starts. During the two solid months

of the summer break, Eritrean students are engaged in different activities. The young ones are out and about playing soccer, hide and seek and eating beles, prickly pears, while those above 17 years of age are dispatched in their respective localities for the annual national summer greening campaign held each year at the beginning of summer. All grade 10 and 11 students all over the country take part in the campaign that lasts for a month by planting trees and giving social services. Students try to enjoy every bit of the last two or three days of the last week of summer.

As the first day of the new school year approaches, registration fees are paid in the first week, followed by the purchase of new books and stationery. Going back to school can seem less than appealing for many kids after the long summer break. Let’s face it, going back to the monotonous daily routine, and marching to the beat of a strict weekly timetable can be quite disheartening. With the

beginning of the new school year, the excitement from summer and the freedom of the break slowly begin to fade into the distance. As the time to go to bed and the time to get up are reset, the luxury of the summer leisure time begins to be filled with homework and the thought of a whole new set of teachers, new classes, new faces and, sometimes, even new schools – which can all be quite overwhelming!

Nonetheless the start of the new school year means the start of yet another chapter in your life. A chance to make more friends, catch up with the old and most important progress as a human being, a human being who thrives on knowledge. Starting the new school year motivated is the first step towards spending the next ten months productively. I say to you all my dear readers-students- may the new school year be a fresh start, a year filled with new discoveries, a year of making happy memories, and a year when you make efforts to surpass your previous school year’s achievements.


“pagume” the 13th month of the geez calendar

Compiled by Lwam Kahsay

Pagume is the name given to the 13th month in the Geez calendar. According to the Geez calendar, a year is divided into 12 months of 30 days with the remaining five or six days making up the 13th month. Pagume comes after August just before the Geez New Year which falls on September 11 or 12.

The most known and commonly used calendar in the world is the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII. The difference between Geez and Gregorian calendars resulted from the approaches adopted in determining the date of the annunciation of Jesus. Geez calendar was proposed by the 318 Coptic popes of Alexandria.

To indicate the year followers of the Eritrean churches today use the incarnation era, which dates from the annunciation of Jesus on march 25,AD 9, As calculated by Annianus of Alexandria 400 AD; thus its first civil year began 7 months earlier on august 29,AD 8. Meanwhile Europeans eventually adopted the calculations made by Dionysius Exiguous in AD 525 instead, which placed the annunciation 8 years earlier than

had Annianus. This causes the Geez calendar number to be 8 years less than the Gregorian year number from January 1 until September 10 or 11,then 7 years less for the remainder of the Gregorian year.

Geez language is extensively used in Eritrea for religious reasons and the Orthodox Church of Eritrea uses the Geez calendar. Every year is dedicated to one of the four apostles of the bible in succession: Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. In the first three years the 13th month (Pagume) has five days. A 6th epagomenal day is added every fourth year without exception. The term Pagume is also derived from the Geez words.

During the Pagume week, people have a bath in cold water which is referred to as Mai PAGUME in Tigrigna; mai means water. This ritual is performed to purify one’s body from evil deeds at the end of the year. The ritual is particularly common among girls who sing in unison after they have a bath. In most

rural areas people go to the lakes while city dwellers go to nearby churches and wash using the holy water there.

A n o t h e r event that takes place during Pagume is the lighting of group of sticks called “HOYE” on the eve of the Geez New Year. The lighting of Hoye is an expression of a wish for a bright year. Pagume marks

the end of the rainy season when farmers look forward to the harvest after the New Year.

Spiritually, Pagume is intended as a time of confession in the Orthodox Christian Church. People spend the days praying and hoping for the coming year to be great. Kidus Yohannes is the official name for the Geez New Year.

When it comes to the Geez New Year, people and especially foreigners, get confused about the notion of celebrating New Year in September. The fact remains

while officially Eritrea follows the Gregorian calendar (GC); the elders usually stick to the Julian calendar for traditional and religious holidays. According to the Julian calendar, the year, which starts in September, is divided into 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month, known as Pagumien (a Greek word meaning addition) of 5 days and 6 days in leap years (like the present year). Coming at the end of the rainy season, Pagumen is rightly referring to the fact that Eritrean tradition dictates that bathing your bodies during the Epagomenal days in any water source is vital to keep one’s health throughout the coming year. It is considered as cleansing one’s soul from any sins committed the past year and ensuring a healthy journey throughout the coming year.

Back in the old days, everyone, except for the ill and aged, bathed their bodies. Particularly in the Eritrean highlands, women wake up early

in the morning hours to bathe in the village ponds and rivers. The

elders I consulted about the traditional significance of this norm say that it symbolizes the cleansing of the body and soul in time for the New Year. In old times, except the mobility impaired and very old people, everybody reportedly bathed each morning during the epagomenal days.

Melodious folksongs by the young women as they bathe or play in the meadows are abundant these days.

“Adeye abrehaley, kwerdo maye Adeye abrehaley, kwerdo m a y e … ” Roughly translated this goes as: “Mother, please put the light on for me to fetch water.” This is an allusion to St. Mary, inferring that the young women are asking St. Mary to allow them wash themselves of their sins. The Geez New Year, which is commonly known as Kudus Yohannes, in honor of John the Baptist, entails a range of other colorful activities. The days leading up to the big event, young girls go out in the streets with their little drums singing laudatory songs to passersby who in return give them some money. That’s probably fundraising at the traditional level. Particularly in the rural Eritrea, the girls, with the money collected, supposedly buy decorations to make themselves more beautiful for the New Year. At dusk on the eve of the day, the streets are filled with smoke (or its smell) from the burning torches, made of bundles of dry leaves and thick wood sticks that children

carry around the neighborhood chanting “Hoye Hoye.” Tradition has it that you lay the burning torch on the ground and makes people cross it three times, wishing for blessed and prosperous returns of the day. Once they cross three times, people are supposed to give the children small tips. After we had made a round in our block and make as many people as we could find cross our torches we would make our way back home, where the family gathers in the compound. My grandmother, who loved to stick to tradition, would then pick one of the torches and go around every room and, shall we say fumigate them, reciting some verses that supposedly wish for prosperity with the coming the New Year:

“Akokay, akokay… kurae hamli wtsa’e Geat tesmi eto…”

The wish, in simple words, would sound something like: “Be gone, vegetable dish Welcome porridge of butter…” As silly as they may sound, the verses are simply good wishes of wealth and abundance for the New Year.

When she was done with touring all rooms in the house, we would all gather around a small bonfire made from what remains of the torches. Our grandmother would then sing traditional New Year folksongs. And boy, that was a lot of fun! Such traditions make up an important part of the rich Eritrean cultural heritage. The Geez New Year is generally considered as a fresh beginning and remains to this day the most important of the Eritrean traditional holidays.


sacrifice that developed during the struggle for independence is the best quality of Eritrea’s defense. One of the objectives of the national service is “to preserve the courage and culture of heroism that the people of Eritrea have shown during the 30-year armed struggle and pass them to the next generations.” In Eritrea, defending against external aggression and internal subversion is the duty of every citizen. As a result, despite the volatility of the region in which Eritrea exists, the nation is one of the most secure countries in Africa.

In a pluralistic society such as that of Eritrea, it is imperative to promote values which minimize confrontation. The government’s policy that supports unity in diversity and equality of cultures, including languages, allows for tolerance and the overall security of the country.

It is culture that unites us and defines us as an entity. The resistance capacity of the Eritrean society against foreign aggression and internal subversion stems from the constructive aspects of our culture. The culture of unity and solidarity is the key for our survival. A society that does not respect

Culture and National . . .continued from page 2

its own culture cannot defend its interest. As a developing country Eritrea has scored spectacular success in maintaining cultural balance and in preserving cultural identity which are necessary for nation building. Security and prosperity cannot be attained without the proper cultural instrument. A clear policy on culture that favors the most highly valued cultural elements is vital to stimulate creativity, increase security and enhance the moral health of the nation.

Global powers have a tradition of collecting and using culture and identity-related information of the global community to craft their national security strategy. Social scientists are mobilized, and policymakers have access to key insights into foreign populations. Colonialists, for example, in an attempt to trample the occupied populations, first study and then rob the subjugated people’s culture. Once they destroyed the identity of the colonized people by robbing them of their culture, they ruled for centuries without much difficulty.

National security, apart from protecting the nation from aggression and insecurity, has to do with the preservation of the core values of the society and the possession of the means and capabilities to protect

them. National values include the legal and moral footing of the country which are vital for the normal functioning and development of the society. Eritrea’s national culture is the product of the rich experiences of the people over the years which have been enhanced during the past 28 years of independence. In the new era of peace, progressive culture and increased awareness of the importance of security should be indispensable instruments of national security and prosperity.

Culture affects the ability of countries to establish and sustain economic prosperity, political stability and security in many ways. The culture of the Eritrean society has long been described as “Guardian without army.” The exceptional peace and security prevalent in Eritrea is more a result of the culture than the work of the security forces. We must maintain the positive and constructive aspects of the Eritrean culture that has enabled us to secure unity and victory.

local news

A Sudanese Ophthalmologists team ‘Albeser” in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders has executed successful eye surgery on 424 patients in Massawa.

The beneficiaries include patients with sight disabilities from all over the Northern Red Sea region who have been on the waiting list.

According to Prof. Mohammed-Nur Hassan, coordinator of the Ophthalmologists team, diagnosis on over 4 thousand people with sight disabilities has been conducted and 1500 eye glasses were distributed. Prof. Mohammed-Nur also said that the strong organization in Eritrea has significantly contributed to the success of the program.

Noting that the sustainable awareness programs conducted and the strong participation of the communities coupled with the commitment of the Sudanese Ophthalmologists group alongside their Eritrean counterparts was the reason behind the success of the program, Dr. Samuel Kebede, coordinator of the program, said that the program has made significant contribution

SudaneSe ophthalmologiStS in maSSawa

in exchanging experience.

Dr. Berhe Tesfai, Medical Director of the Massawa Hospital, on his part said that the good relation built with the Sudanese Ophthalmologists team has enabled many

more patients become beneficiaries.According to documents from the Ministry

of Health, in the past 10 years the Sudanese Ophthalmologists team ‘Albeser’ has conducted eye surgery to over 4 thousand nationals.

The effort being made by the National Association of Eritrean War Disabled Veterans to rehabilitate war-disabled veterans in Tserona sub-zone is registering commendable outcome.

Mr. Fesehaye Tesfamichael, Vice Chairman of the Association, said that the war disabled veterans have been provided with loan opportunity with a view to enable them improve their livelihood through creating income generation schemes.

Noting that the contribution being made by nationals in the Diaspora is significantly contributing in the improvement of the livelihoods of the war disabled veterans, Mr. Fesehaye said that the association is working by identifying the situation and needs of members.

At the event extensive discussion was conducted on the draft agenda for the fourth Congress of the Association.

tSerona: rehabilitation

activitY


project management unit – ministry of education (pmu-moe)Date: September 25, 2019

Loan/ Grant No: 2100155029467/2100150032843

IFB No: SSDEE/ADF/G/ICB/005/2019

1. This Invitation for Bids (IFB) follows the General Procurement Notice (GPN) for this Project that appeared in United Nations

Development Business online (UNDB online) issued on June 12, 2015, and on the African Development Bank’s Internet Website

(www.afdb.org).

2. The Government of The State of Eritrea has received a financing from the African Development Bank (ADF) in various currencies

towards the cost of SUPPORT TO SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FOR EMPLOYABLILITY AND ENTERPRENEURSHIP

[SSDEE] PROJECT. It is intended that part of the proceeds of this financing will be applied to eligible payments under the contract for

procurement of tools, traditional materials and Equipment for training centers.

3. The Project Management Unit of the Ministry of Education (PMU–MoE) now invites sealed Bids from eligible Bidders for the supply

of tools, traditional materials and Equipment for training centers (hereinafter called “the Suppliers”) following International Competitive

Bidding (ICB) method of procurement in accordance with the Bank’s Rules and Procedures for Procurement of Goods / Works, May

2008, Revised July 2012.

4. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from and inspect the bidding document at the office of The Project

Management Unit of the Ministry of Education (PMU–MoE) , Hday Street No.: 748-1, Dembe Sembel, Block “A”, First Floor, P. O.

Box: 1099, Asmara, Eritrea, Tele: +291-1-151614/Mob. 002917262014 Fax: +291-1-152181, Email: [email protected], or

[email protected].

5. A complete set of bidding documents may be purchased by interested bidders on the submission of written application to the above and

upon payment of non-refundable fee of US$ 50 (Fifty US dollars only) or in any other freely convertible currency.

6. The provisions in the Instructions to Bidders and in the General Conditions of Contract are the provisions of the African

Development Bank Standard Bidding Document: Procurement of Goods.

7. Bids must be delivered to the above office on or before 10:30 hour’s local time (GMT +3) on December 10, 2019 and must be

accompanied by a bid security of: USD 10,000.00 (Ten thousand only) or any other convertible equivalent currency.

8. Bids will be opened in the presence of bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at 10:30 hours local time (GMT +3) on

December 10, 2019, at the offices of PMU–MoE, Hday Street No.: 748-1, Dembe Sembel, Block “A”, First Floor, Asmara, Eritrea.

Invitation for BidsERITREA


The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) invites qualified applicants for the following posts:-

S/N NAME OF VACANT POST

GRADE NO. OFPOSTS

ACADEMICQUALIFICATIONS

PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCE

1. Director Trade and Customs

P5 1 A minimum of a master’s degree in international trade, commerce or business administration with adequate knowledge of monetary economics; with good communication skills and inter personal relations

10 years’ minimum experience in international trade and economic related areas with proven track record of management

2. Director Industry and Agriculture

P5 1 Post graduate degree in Economics, Social and Economic Law, MSc Development Studies or Business Administration

10 years’ experience in working on industrial and agricultural development with a strong private sector background in a leadership role

AGE: Candidate should not be more than fifty six years of age at the time of submitting their application

WORKING LAUGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR ALL APPLICANTS: Must be fluent in English, French or Arabic. A combination of any two or all of these languages will be an added advantage

ELIGIBILITY FOR APPLICATION: Applicants must be citizens of COMESA Member States

PLACE OF WORK: Lusaka, Zambia

COMESA APPLICATION Form can be accessed at the COMESA website: http://www.comesa.int; all documents MUST be submitted electronically and also in hard copies to: Ministry of Trade and IndustryEmail: [email protected] Office No. 210

CLOSING DATE OF APPLICATION: 10 days from the date of announcement

VacancY annoUnceMenT


“Our Heritage is Our Identity,” Director of RDC Mrs. Azieb Tewolde

Knowledge sharing is something Eritreans strongly believe in and work for. Because growth depends on shared vision and work, the Eritrean Research and Documentation Center (RDC) keeps its archives’ doors open to researches, scientists and students from the country and abroad. The ultimate goal is to make Eritrean heritage known to the world as a contribution to the larger chronicle of humanity. The intertwined history of human beings is a mosaic of so many pieces. We look in today’s Q&A at how RDC is making ancient manuscripts found in Eritrean monasteries gems of humanity.

Prof. Bausi was presented with a small token of appreciation from the Orthodox Patriarch Office

Thank you for your time, Mrs. Azieb. Let me first give you a chance to pass on your greetings to our readers.

Pleasure! I am Azieb Tewolde and I am the Director of the Eritrean Research and Documentation Center. Since its establishment in 1996 the center has been an independent office that works to ensure the preservation, cataloging and digitalizing of Eritrea’s historical gems in collaboration with local and international organizations. RDC is also a gigantic archive which serves as reference for students, researchers, historians and other interested people who want to go back in time and study past civilizations in our region.

RDC has worked closely with local monasteries for almost twenty years now with an aim to preserve manuscripts. It has made the preservation of manuscripts its top

Discoveries of the past found in Eritrea are “gems of humanity and Eritrea will strive to safeguard them while sharing them with the rest of the world,” Says Mrs. Azieb.

Billion Temesghen

priority. It also works to fortify the Eritrean identity.

RDC is known to have carried out several workshops in collaboration with international organizations and research centers. For example, in the last week of August, RDC held a workshop in collaboration with the Research Center of Hamburg University of Germany. Can you tell us about it, please?

The recent workshop RDC coordinated alongside the Research Center of Hamburg University was attended by 25 experts from the Adi-Keih College of Business and Social Science, the newly established Debre Sina Theology College, the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church as well as from RDC itself. A renowned Professor in the field, Alessandro Bausi, Director of the Research Center at Hamburg University, came, along with a group of experts he led, here to give training.

The training had two phases. In 1996, amongst other ventures, RDC started its mission with manuscripts, which, fortunately, are found in a big number scattered across numerous monasteries of our country. We have conducted many workshops and have carried out successful training and research sessions which have certainly encouraged us and other parties to further enhance our endeavors every time. Most of our projects were initially conducted using our local capacities. Our work began to make greater impact soon after we opened up to international expertise. And, of course, the recent collaboration with the University of Hamburg demonstrated an intensive participation, with a good outcome.

We have had surveys regarding our workshops and how well they have been and are being carried out. We wanted our approach to be scientific. Therefore, being updated with related advancements in the field

has been a focus of our interest. I can say that the work carried out so far has been conducted with diligence and will certainly be a solid foundation for future research undertakings.

The second phase was encouraging local expertise. It is an important factor as a matter of fact. We’ve worked on it and are still working on it. Cataloguing, s a f e g u a r d i n g and digitalizing m a n u s c r i p t s are proficiencies that need to be constantly appraised. To this end what pleases me most is that this specific workshop has been vibrant thanks to the participation of young graduates from different colleges. They have grasped the instruction provided by the experts in a meticulous way and have made us extremely proud.

What stage has this specific venture reached?

It is only the beginning. Raising awareness and earning the trust of

the monks at the monasteries, with their long-kept treasures, was not an easy task. The time to educate and build up an Eritrean expertise will take time. Which is why I’d rather not boast about what we’ve done so far. We need to educate our young graduates further. We need to provide them with opportunities to study for their MA degrees and PhDs. We need to invigorate their passion as well as reward their education. Eritrea will definitely benefit one day from its own doctors and professors considering that what is waiting to be unveiled is immense. So far we have done well but the coming deeds won’t be easy.

What criteria does your office use in inviting international experts to work with?

We have our own standards but they are not fixed as the field is immense and has a wide spectrum of internal

fields within. But we certainly look in to their past experiences and their genuine interest to shed light on a heritage that is of common interest to the local and international community.

To what extent do you believe the importance of manuscripts stretch to, not only for the country but also as a heritage for the global community?

It is a heritage of paramount importance. According to our survey, the latest one dates back to 1896. This one is linked to the advent of Christianity in our region. Not all manuscripts contain religious texts. Some manuscripts are on literature, some on law, some others on economics. Therefore, they are mirrors of a whole civilization covering the society’s customs, education and scientific advancements. They are, indeed, an amazing inheritance that will serve local communities and beyond. These are gems of humanity and we will strive to safeguard them while sharing them with the rest of the world. As the common saying of the Eritrean people goes, “Our Heritages are Our Identity.” We can assure you that we are working not only to explore and enrich our archives but we are also working hard to add further vigor to the Eritrean Identity.

Thank you again!

Vol. 26 No. 59 Saturday, September 21, 2019 Pages 8, Price 2.00...

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Transcript of Vol. 26 No. 59 Saturday, September 21, 2019 Pages 8, Price 2.00...