Today’s Executive is an active Ethiopian Diaspora from the Middle East. He is aspiring to arrest blindness in Ethiopia via attracting NGOs, promoting tourism development, disclosing the little known secrets of Al Negash to the world and promoting sport and people-to-people integrations. Excerpts!
Name: Yasin Rajue
He was born in Aksum town. He attended his primary education in the same town. He then completed secondary school education in Mekelle at Emperor Yohannes-IV Secondary and Preparatory School. He then received his Bachelor degree in political science from Asmara University which was then called Haileselassie I University.
He also earned master’s degree in public administration and again additional masters in business administration from California University, USA. However, “I believe that knowledge that does not turn around a community is like a candle lit in a dark pot.”
My educational qualification made me feel self-confident so as to contribute to the betterment of my community in particular and my country in general, he said. “Experience is also concurrently important to solve people’s challenges at every stage and ensure that poverty and backwardness are alleviated.”
For four decades, he had lived in Saudi Arabia starting from when he flee his home country in order to distance himself from the dictatorial Derg regime which came to the helm of power in 1974 following the popular revolution in the country. To topple down the regime, he joined the armed struggle under the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) in Asmara, where he was serving as teacher.
After the demise of the Derg regime, he has been shuttling to Ethiopia. Yasin was among the founders of Tigray Development Association (TDA) representing the Middle East area. He has been coordinating various developmental activities encouraging the Ethiopian descendants in Saudi Arabia and its environs. In the meantime, he has built three public schools in Kola Tembien, Shiraro (Kunama Community) and Raya Azebo. Since then, over 600 schools have been built across the region in total by TDA.
In the post-struggle period, after 1991, he stated that he has been doing his level best to engage the general public in poverty reduction campaigns. He was the lead mediator during the adoption of the current constitution in the Ethiopian Diaspora in the Middle East countries. The meeting was held in the town of Jeddah during the chartered transitional government of Ethiopia from 1991-1995. He believes that the constitution has enabled the people of Ethiopia to think about democracy, development and prosperity.
“In doing so, I had met a Saudi higher official whose wife was an Ethiopian,” he stated. “I consulted him about the potential plans that we (Ethiopian) have in perspective to do in the hinterland. He then asked me
100 NGOs which were active in Saudi to replicate their activities in Ethiopia. After examining their background, I chose three NGOs engaged in the health sector namely: Africa Daewa, Physicians Across the Continent and AL Basar International Foundation.”
Fifteen years back, Africa Daewa entered Ethiopia for the first time. It has treated over 4000 children and 250 impaired persons with the estimated total cost of four million Birr.
And the second NGO, Physicians Across the Continent had conducted surgery in Tor Hayloch and Black Lion Hospitals in Addis Ababa at the total cost of five million Birr. They as well engaged in knowledge transfer, networking among the Ethiopian doctors and joint research with their Saudi counterparts.
The third and biggest one is AL Basar International Foundation. This NGO entered into Ethiopia with the help of the Ethiopian-born business tycoon Sheikh Mohammed AL Moudi. It is financed by the Saudi Princess. It has been treating patients in Afar, Dembi Delo and some other parts in eastern Ethiopia. However, it was banned from its activities temporarily due to international fears that arose from the Sep 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City.
Currently, AL Basar, in which Yasin is the Ethiopia Country Director, is operating in 45 African countries, India and Pakistan, among other states. It has 29 hospitals across the world. And now, the board of directors has decided to build 11 eye care hospitals and one training institution in Ethiopia. That is one in each state and the two city administrations with the cost of six billion Birr.
“Solely in Ethiopia, AL Basar has been contributing immensely in providing eye care services in different parts of the country. The service is estimated to be worth over 180,000 million Birr till the last 7 July 2019.”
According to studies, currently there are over two million Ethiopians suffering from blindness-causing diseases and about 200 eye specialists in the country, Yasin stated. Thus, this shows that much more efforts are needed to improve the health sector in the country.
Tourism Development
In addition to his activities in the health sector and social development activities, Yasin is the owner and executive manager of Ethio-Nejash Tour, Development and Promotion P.L.C.
He works hard to bring to the limelight the little known facts about Al Negash Mosque. In chronological order, the mosque is the second Mosque in the world next to Mecca and the first in the African continent respectively, Yasin said that he is striving to throw light on the little known historical place in the world, holding mysterious and sacred treasures of Islamism.
He described the place as “It is the first place where political asylum is granted in the history of humankind.”
To promote diplomacy and people-to- people integration, Ethio-Nejash P.L.C had invited over 1000 Eritreans, 220 Sudanese visa free and 300 representatives of Nation, Nationalities and Peoples to visit the Holy place in Eastern Tigray State, Ethiopia.
In the areas of sport and entertainment, the P.L.C has various projects. One is the ‘Nejashi Cup’ which will be held in Dubai soon. Jointly with Tigray Culture and Tourism Bureau and Tigray Football Federation, three of the Tigray Football Clubs (The champion of Ethiopian Premier League 2018/19 Mekelle 70- Enderta, Wolwelo Adigrat University and Sihul Shire Football clubs) participating in the Ethiopian Premier League will take part in the Dubai Nejashi Cup. Other Football teams, from all corners of Ethiopia, will join the same tournament after consultations with the Ethiopian Football Federation.
This is aimed at inspiring young people to have an understanding about their history and culture. It as well could promote people’s interaction.
All these activities are being undertaken under the approval of responsible governmental and nongovernmental organizations including; Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Council and Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church, according to Yasin.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition 18 August 2019
BY HAFTU GEBREZGABIHER
