YALI Alumni visit camp

On Sunday August 24th, Hallelujah Lulie and Eden Gelan, alumni of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) paid a visit to the YSEL camp.  As younger leaders in different fields, they serve as excellent role models for our young YSEL students.  Both of them spoke about their experience on the YALI program, the work they do, and different projects they have been involved in.  Hallelujah spoke on the importance of using social media which we hope will inspire YSEL students to have more of a presence on social media.  "What I learned from Eden and Hallelujah is that helping others is not just good for others but for yourself and your country," said Natnael Hdneya. Hallelujah and Eden stayed through lunch and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with our active, dynamic young leaders.  We hope it isn't the last time they can visit YSEL students at camp.

Week Three Trip Review

My 3rd weekend 

The weekend was the most exciting and fun at the same time emotional time. On Saturday we went to the Genesis farm in Debre Zeyit   and I personally learned a lot about it. The Genesis farm was the first farm I saw. It was very large and great farm. I like the way the products are produced in a large scale and all are organic. After the Genesis Farm, we went to a big youth cente. The place was very beautiful and fun. Some of my friends were swimming and some of them playing pool and table tennis. I enjoyed being there because I saw my new brothers and sisters having fun. Everyone was happy. After the youth center we came back to our camp and ate our lunch. That was the time we were preparing to go to the most exciting place we were dying to see the whole past week. We went to an orphanage and got the golden chance to see 25 children from Debre Zeyit. The children were very beautiful friendly and lovely. Had fun with them and it was very emotional to see them smile because we were there and helped them. The children reminded me of the kids I used to teach and feed before I came to this camp. My kids were almost 200 in number. We have 16 teachers and I was the coordinator. Sometimes I teach math and Amharic. They are from grade one to four. I can only get to feed 50 of them at first and tried to feed 100 of them because getting funding was the hardest thing to do. I have to get funding for the feeding program and stationary materials for all of them. I was successful in funding there materials but feeding only 100 of them. I felt selfish to leave them and come to this camp at the same time very motivated. I was crying thinking of them and thinking that there are many children who have nothing for their school and food hurts me very much. And sure brings motivation in my heart. The weekend continued to Sunday morning after subject class, we got the chance to meet Hallelujah and Eden, the alumni of US embassy’s YALI program and talked about different things. I had had a wonderful time this weekend.   

Lelisse Tesfaye, Addis Ababa

Photos of the Day

Each day two campers are chosen to take pictures throughout the day.  At the end of the day, two pictures are chosen to highlight an event or something special to each photographer about YSEL camp.  Below are some of the photographs chosen as Photos of the Day so far at camp.

Art Club showing off their tie dye creations

Close up of the delicious injera and rolls

Coffee Break time is a great chance to hang out with new friends

Food, glorious food!

Working together in Geography class

Looking for a twin on Twins Day

Two campers found their twin on Twins Day

Mekdelawit finds a comfortable place to read

Playing a game at Coffee Break

Bethel interviews our new teacher Chris

Close Up Day: Post Coffee Break cups

Urban Gardening Day: Cabbage close up

Addis trip: posing in fornt of the Lucy Museum

Addis trip: sharing lunch together

Backpacks together

Meron teaches fellow students karate

Generations working together during an urban gardening session

Storm clouds are a part of our days at camp

New friends

Night time visitor

Limbo time

Post rain close up of geraniums

Back flips at the Youth Center pool

Laying on the grass looking up

Distributing school materials to orphans

Yoghurt + Cups= Creative Recycling

One of the fun activities we like to do at YSEL camp is the Cup Game.  It has taken the world by storm and almost every teenager on the planet knows this fun group activity taken from the movie “Pitch Perfect.”  In order to do the Cup Game properly, you need a strong cup.  One of the challenges this year at camp was finding a decent cup in the shops and markets of Debre Zeyit and Addis.  Nothing could be found.  One thing that is produced in Debre Zeyit is yoghurt from the Holland and Genesis farms.  The large container the yoghurt is sold in is perfect for the Cup Game.  So, on week two, we began making yoghurt a daily part of our meals at camp.  The staff and students alike have been enjoying the yoghurt and day by day, the number of Cup Game participants has grown.  Maybe by the end of camp, we’ll have everyone playing the Cup Game together.

  This video reflects the resourcefulness of our campers and how they have recycled in a fun and creative way. Enjoy the video!

http://youtu.be/-6wAARdub0k

Reflections on YSEL Camp

When the sun rises and birds sing a morning song, and when the green plants greet a new day, that’s when we wake up. Trees blowing in the cool winds greet us we leave our dorms and you will remember that you are at YSEL camp because during breakfast the four houses cheer. That’s when I wake up mentally. Our homeroom faces a shimmering sun. Through the window of each of the little house, you can see beautiful flowers and attractively shaped plants. This view made me eager to explore the YSEL campus.

     There are a lot of beautiful places such as the secret garden and beautiful forest beside us. The homerooms next to large dining hall look like four light brown stones with red roofs on a green grass field. Our dorms are surrounded by flowers and when looking out your dorm room window you see a green place with beautiful flowers. With all the learning and different activities we do, we don’t get a chance to spend a lot of time there.

                                                              By Sumeya Ali from the Ants House 

Culture Day at Camp

Every Wednesday is Spirit Day at camp.  This is an opportunity for students to show their regional culture by dressing up in traditional clothing.  It is a great day where students learn about each other's home and gain more insight to the tradition of Ethiopia.  This year we had almost everyone dress up for the special day.  It also coincided with the holiday "Buhe," which we celebrated with a big campfire after homework time.  Students enjoyed singing and dancing in front of the fire, celebrating the holiday.

Past Spirit Days have included Twins Day and Backwards Day.  YSEL students have enthusiastically participated in all the Spirit Days.  One more remains--Crazy Hat Day.  I can't wait to see what creative toppers this group of students come up with. Stay tuned for next Wednesday!


Thoughts about Culture Day

Today is Culture day and to be honest I am really excited because this camp has been all about English and America. Don’t get me wrong I love both. It’s just that I miss my culture; the coffee ceremony, the popcorn, the cultural dance everything it’s who I am and it isn’t easy saying good bye to that for a whole month. It’s not like we wear cultural clothes or have a ceremony every day, but it’s nice to know that I have the option of doing that whenever I want to. I can’t define culture my culture defines me. Does that make any sense? Well that’s how I perceive it.

    I think culture is really important in this camp because it helps us learn about Ethiopia as a whole. It introduces us to the diversity of people who live in this country.  It also lets us know the importance of tolerance and unity. Our culture is what unites this camp into a little Ethiopia.

Rodas Dubie, Addis Ababa