Connecting with YSEL-Afghanistan Alumni

What do Ethiopia and Afghanistan have in common? YSEL, of course!  Ethiopia is the second country tohave a YSEL program and it was only apropos that connect Afghan and Ethiopian students together via Skype to get to know each other and share their YSEL camp experience.  Last Friday, five YSEL-Ethiopia students, Liul Gebreselase, Semira Abdihakim, Hannah Abate, Hoden Ahmed, and Dugume Yeshitla had a Skype conversation with four YSEL alumni in Kabul: Hamid Hamidid (YSEL4), Murtaza Afghan (YSEL3), Farkhonda Tahery(YSEL5), and the YSEL Alumni Coordinator Abdul Moqet Moneeb (YSEL 1). 

  The Skype connection was not the best, but still the two groups were able to have a brief conversation, as well as a chat session and talk about their YSEL experience and learn more about each other’s country.  To the question about the challenges they faced at YSEL camp, Hamid Hameedi replied, “It was challenging at first to be with other students from different parts of Afghanistan, but soon we all became like one big family.  Being in another country (India, where YSEL-Afghanistan is held) was very exciting too.”  He also commented that the YSEL program is “not a waste of time and is a really great opportunity to improve yourself, and prepare yourself for studying at university.”  When Hannah Abate asked about how they all felt on the last day of camp, Farkhonda Tahery said, “It was a really tragic day for us, it was difficult to leave each other and go to our homes.  But when we got together again at the American Councils office in Kabul, we were so happy to be together. Now we keep in touch by phone, texting and Face Book. You all need to stay in touch after camp.” 

   One of our students from Somali region, Semira Abdihakim asked how their fasting for Ramadan is going and what special things they do for the month.  Semira was surprised to hear that many things they do in Afghanistan for Ramadan are similar to what she does here in Ethiopia.  They talked about the different kinds of food they eat during Ramadan but had to change the subject for the conversation was making them too hungry.

  After the initial Skype call and chats, the connection got better and our Afghan alumni had a chance to speak with Tom’s Reading group for about 10 minutes.  The Reading Group discussed the book they are presently reading, “By The Great Horn Spoon,” and YSEL Afghan alumni talked about the books they read in camp.

  We hope that we can connect with YSEL alumni in Afghanistan one more time during camp and that the connection will be better.  Both sides of the conversation enjoyed meeting each other virtually and we will encourage more contact via the YSEL groups on Face Book.