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TPN NEWSLETTER July 2020

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TPN NEWSLETTER July 2020 Migration 101 One of our Tigrayan sisters in Yemen waiting in line to be counted by smugglers Source: InfoMigrants 2019 According to the United Nations International Office for Migration (IOM), a migrant is defined as … any person who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a State away from his/her habitual place of residence, regardless of: (1) the person’s legal status; (2) whether the movement is voluntary or involuntary; (3) what the causes for the movement are; or (4) what the length of the stay is ... According to estimates from 2019, there are approximately 272 million migrants globally, comprising about 3.5% of the world’s population. There are two main categories of migrants to keep in mind: (1) those that are forced to leave home; and (2) those who do so by choice. Forced migrants may be fleeing conflict, persecution, and/or natural disasters. Voluntary migrants on the other hand might leave their homes in search of educational or economic opportunities. Another important distinction to keep in mind is that there are those who migrate regularly and those that migrate irregularly. Regular migrants are those with the documentation necessary to travel accordance with “the laws, regulations, or international agreements governing the entry into or exit from the State of origin, transit or destination.” The many others who migrate irregularly are often left with less visible means of travel making them particularly vulnerable to trafficking and other dangers. Many of us in the Tigrayan diaspora are a product of one of the previous waves of forced migration from Ethiopia. While we understand the many challenges that face those who migrated to North America, Europe and other parts of the industrialized world, it is important to remember that many of our brothers and sisters sometimes face additional complexity in their host countries. Tigrayans who migrated to parts of the world where immigration policies may be more restrictive are often living and working in dire and sometimes unsafe conditions. In some cases, while their host country (i.e., the countries in which they are living and working) may be peaceful, they do not have the opportunity of citizenship and the rights and protections that would be afforded as a result. Others, like our brothers and sisters currently in Yemen, are living in harrowing circumstances due to the overall political and economic climate in their host countries. As many of you know, there are approximately 45,000 Tigrayans currently languishing in prisons or on the streets in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in Yemen. Among them are people from other parts of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. For those in overcrowded prisons, the risk of infectious disease is high and many people are reported to have died. This is particularly concerning in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges are particularly difficult for women and it has been reported that many are giving birth in detention. In addition to those in prisons, there are people who are trapped on the border between the two countries (primarily in Yemen) that are in desperate need of food, shelter and medicine. Due to the ongoing conflict, some of those in Yemen were wounded or perished because they were caught in the crossfire. Many women are reported to have been raped. International Organizations are reported to have difficulty accessing them due to the armed conflict. While our brothers and sisters are asking for the Ethiopian government for their immediate repatriation home with the support of international organizations, to date, the Ethiopian administration is refusing to do so. It is argued that this may be due to and/or fanning the flames of ethnic tension. So what can we do in light of all of these challenges? Let’s begin by addressing their immediate needs while a more sustainable solution is identified by donating to this gofundme. Community News Fundraiser for Migrants in Yemen & Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Learn more about the fundraiser and support the 45,000 brothers and sisters that are currently trapped in Yemen and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that are stranded and in dire need of our help by sharing the link and donating here. Vote for Gebre-egziabher Gebre! One of the male finalists for the SOS Children’s Villages International’s Hermann Gmeiner 2020 Award is Gebre-egziabher Gebre. Gebre-egziabher is an SOS alumni. from the SOS Children’s Village in Mekelle, Ethiopia. Please read his amazing story, watch his video and VOTE for Gebre-egziabher Gebre here. The deadline for voting is July 23, 2020. Let’s all come together and make sure our fellow brother Gebre- egziabher takes the award home by voting and sharing the link with others. Have community news to share? Send us the information at [email protected]. TPN News and Events History of Tigray Teleconference On June 27th, the Tigray Community Forum’s Identity Committee successfully hosted its first teleconference on the History of Tigray. The discussion was led by our distinguished guests Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia and Prof. Zeresenay Alemseged, and moderated by our very own Dr. Tsega Gebreyesus and Senaye Gebre-Michael. The purpose of the call was to equip and inform American raised and/or born Tigrayans on their rich history and identity. The discussion was amazing and extremely informative. For those of you who couldn’t join the call, you can watch the full recording posted on YouTube here. Please note that this was just the first session of many, and that it will be an ongoing program to learn the nuances and debates involved in the history of Tigray in order to inspire the next generation of Tigrayan archaeologists and historians to question and further explore the history of Tigray. TPN Atlanta Career Presentations The TPN Atlanta Chapter compiled presentations from several Tigrayan professionals that provided insight into their careers. Due to COVID-19 concerns, a scheduled career fair was cancelled, so members came together to record presentations to share virtually with the community. Watch the TPN Atlanta Chapter’s Career Presentations on YouTube here. Guest speakers hailed from a number of different fields including the Media, Technology, Health, and the Military. You’ll learn so much about different careers in each field by listening so tune in! Contact the TPN Atlanta Chapter at [email protected] with any questions. Spotlight of the Month Each month, we will highlight a Tigrayan professional or business. To nominate someone you know, email [email protected] with the subject line “Spotlight Nomination." Meet this month's spotlight: Rahel Haile Tell us about your current profession/interests/pursuits? My name is Rahel Haile and I am currently the Human Resources Coordinator at The Child and Family Therapy Center of Denver. I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology and am currently pursuing a graduate degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology. My ultimate goal is to open a consulting firm here in the United States and hopefully establish a solid Mental Health Therapy Center in Tigray. What led you to this path and what keeps you going? Both my community and family have been such a great support team. They are the ones who keep me motivated and remind me why I entered the field of psychology and mental health. What is the biggest lesson life has taught you so far? The biggest thing that life has taught me is to always have a positive attitude and remain optimistic. It allows me to turn negatives into positives and helps me understand that although life isn’t perfect, perception is everything. What do you do for fun and to recharge? I’m very much a social butterfly and love to be surrounded by people with positive energy and good vibes. I love to spend time with my girlfriends, have brunches, and shop! Trivia: Our People What is the total population of Tigray? Last month's Trivia: When was the Tigrinya language established? The origin of the Tigrinya language, a direct descendant of Ge’ez, is debated in the literature. Some historians argue that the language was spoken in Axum by the second half of the first millennium after the Common Era (CE). Others argue that the oldest written evidence of the Tigrinya language is in customary laws found in Akele Guzai (modern day Eritrea) dating back to the 13th century. Despite the debates, one thing is clear. The descendants of the Geez-speaking people (modern day Tigrinya-speakers and the Tigre of Eritrea) developed one of the oldest alphabets in the world that remains the written script used in Ethiopia and Eritrea to this day. Tigrinya Word of the Month ስደተኛ Tigrinya pronunciation: sidetegna Definition: a person living outside of their homeland The Tegaru Professionals Network (TPN) is a collective of professionals, educators, leaders, and dedicated community members aspiring to make a positive impact on the growth and development of Tigrayans throughout North America. Support our mission by becoming a member! Follow us @tegarupn on Instagram, and like Tigray Communities Forum on Facebook. TPN depends on memberships dues to sustain its mission and programming. Keep us going by submitting your dues on time monthly. We also accept one-time donations to fund our programming and services. Thank you for your support. 1234 Tigray Lane Atlanta, GA 30318 Add us to your address book You may unsubscribe if you prefer not to receive future emails from us | Privacy Policy.
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