Alexandria: Update WAYS, Egypt

Dear freinds and family!!

Finally, i have found some time to write in my online journal.

Once again, and after 8 years i find myself in Africa. But everyday as i wake up from the Windsor Hotel where i live, i have to constantly remind myself of that fact; Egypt is way advanced, way developed than any other African country i have ever been to. In fact it looks just like any other European town i have visited, maybe even lovelier and more advanced.

Having said that, as you may know, i am here for the 1st ever meeting of the World Academy of Young Scientists (www.ways.org, the youth version of www.twas.org). I am representing Somalia. I have done some research in order to document the country status, development pace as well as the specific challenges Somalia faces as a country and as a people. I am the only Somali here.

I presented my paper yesterday infront of an audience of some 800 people!!!! All of them scientists and students from the developing world. It was breathtaking to stand there and face so many distinguished old professors as well as upcoming young talents and defend my argument for a urgent need for a sustainable, realistic and feasible Somali national action plan/strategy. I advocated for the importance of investing in the one human resource and social capital Somalia has; its youth. As you all know i trully believe in the potential of youth as engines and motors of societies that can move mountains.

For this purpose, i did not want to just hold a talk, i focused more on how my talk could turn into THE walk. I am happy to tell you that after much modification of my project, after much criticism, after many dissapointments, after much convincing, after many intellectual challenges form these scientists, today i HAVE finally been able to secure funding and resources for a project i put together called WALKING THE WALK; EMPOWERING SOMALI YOUTH TO REALISE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND MOVE SOMALI SOCIETY FORWARDS.

The European Union, The UNHCR, UNESCO and some other NGOs and individuals are willing to finance the project. What is my aim? I would like to mobilize Somali youth in Somalia and abroad and bring together 150 young Somali talents for a Skills-Training Seminar, to be held next year. Location will be determined later, but most likely it will be in Cairo!. We will then discuss our specific problems, identify our common goal, which requires specific solutions and embark on a skills-trainings which will equip these youth with the necessary tools needed to do the work. The skills-training will vary from lobbying to advocacy, from fundraising to strategic planning. Of course individual talents will be cultivated, potential put into full use. I am excited. I wanted to share this excitement with you too.

So, today i am happy. Very happy.
I hope that idea will materialize into a successful project and indeed i hope my goals will be met.

Sincerely, Sahro