She attended known universities for her first degree and post graduate programs. She prepared a number of research papers in different countries that earned her credibility and good reputation. An exemplary girl, Ruth Negash is an Eritrean youth who has benefited from the educational opportunities in the Diaspora. Ruth was last here in Eritrea during the 30th N.U.E.Y.S and third Eri-Youth festival. Following are excerpts of her interview with Menesey Magazine:

What attracts you of being a youth?

Knowledge! The youth have to work hard to reach the highest level of education. The effort the youth exert towards that end attracts me. Knowledge is endless. The way you go to reach the top, improves your level of thinking and your understanding. Thanks to modernization, knowledge is now easily accessible. The youth now have better education opportunities compared to the former generations. We are on a stage where you could teach yourself by yourself. The development in information technology has opened a wider gate for the development of education.

Some people have a negative understanding on the sophistication of information technology? What do you say?

Development is of two characteristics: the positive and negative aspects. In order to choose its good side, you should have both ambition and personal interests. Through information technology (IT), you can easily and quickly get access to scientific knowledge. Similarly, there is also ample unnecessary information that costs you time and energy. The best option here is being selective. Technology has changed the teaching and learning process considerably, enabling students to conduct significant research works and bring interesting ideas.

What do you do exactly?

I’m teaching. I am the only black mathematics teacher in the area where I live. When I applied the IT solutions that I learned in my teachings, even the students with weak performance showed improvement in the subject. American students are weak in mathematics and most of them reach higher levels of education while still scoring low in that subject. When I tried to teach them with the help of the internet, the outcome became encouraging and we expanded it at a school level. That boosted my reputation and I was encouraged by the school staff. I then made sure that IT got included in the subject curriculum.

What did you study?

I got my first degree in Physiology. I love medical studies. There were a lot of challenges when I joined the university. Many Americans and Eritreans told me that I couldn’t do it. But despite discouraging remarks, even from my teacher, I didn’t give up. I worked hard to successfully complete my studies. When I passed my first year, my teacher had a change of mind and began to encourage and help me. She helped me a lot during my senior paper research.

What was the topic of your research paper?

It was about the relation between the heart and the mind, an interesting subject. Merely, when I see people with damaged brain, due to accidents or other reasons, alive I used to wonder. You see some people with dead brain, but still breathing. “What is the mystery?” I used to think about it. But if the heart is attacked, people stop breathing. The difference inspired me to study physiology and of course I found it interesting. When I started to work, however, another profession attracted my attention.

It was amazing. In 1998, I participated in a workshop. I was interested in and influenced by the research papers presented. I understood the personal satisfaction one can get from helping needy people. So I joined the Peace Corps. Following a short course, I was assigned to Asian countries. My first assignment was in Jordan where I served in remote areas of the country. I benefited so much from that country. I even mastered Arabic.

What was your job in Jordan?

I worked in a children’s orphanage. This orphanage is for children who lost their families due to different reasons. I learned the culture and the people’s way of living. It was a good experience. And it was there that I came across a unique incident in my life.

What was it?

It’s an unforgettable incident. One day the King of the country invited us. When we arrived at the Palace, his wife, the first lady, asked me where my country of origin was. When I told her that I was from Eritrea, she said: “that is why you are so much caring and interested. Eritreans are unique. I heard the love and care you are providing to the children as if they were Eritreans.”

I was very delighted to hear this from her. The King died while we were there and a 45-grievance-day was declared. During my two years service there, I always kept in mind what Mrs. Nur had said to me. I returned back to the US with a substantial experience from that country.

Where were you born?

I was born in Asmara. My dad was a teacher, so we had his good support and follow-ups in our studies. We were able to be successful in school and score good marks. I was a prize winner till I finished junior level and I scored high marks in the general examinations. At that time, only students who scored above 90 were allowed to join the now Semaetat Secondary School and I was one of them, though for only two months.

Why?

My mom was in the US and we went to join her. My dad sent me, along with my three siblings, to Sudan and my mom came there to take us. Life in Sudan was miserable for us, but of course we overcame the challenges because Eritreans there helped us a lot.

In the US, we immediately continued our studies. Since I scored high results in the entrance examinations we took, I was allowed to attend high school. This all was before Eritrea’s independence.

Which grade where you in at the time of Independence?

I was in high school. One day, I met our neighbor, Maria, on the way. She said: “Congratulation Ruth; ell beli (ululate).”
“‘What’s up, Maria?” I was confused.
“Eritrea is free, Eritrea is free,” she couldn’t control her emotions.

A lot of joy and jumping! We were in grief prior to that because we saw the video cassette of the Derg regime’s atrocities towards innocent civilians in Massawa. The white people asked us what that joy was all about. When we told them that we were free, our country was liberated, they would say that we were late.

Independence Day was so special. After that, our parents began advising us that we needed to succeed in our studies if we were to contribute in our nation building endeavors. I joined the university with the help of my parents.

Which university did you attend?

I went to UC Davis, majoring in medical physiology with minors in Human Resources Development. When I worked in management related works in Jordan, I loved the profession so much. There was a management problem in the orphanage, which held 500 children at the time. I conducted a small research on 75 staff members and then I started to teach management development. I enjoyed the teaching profession, too. When I returned back to America, I learned pedagogy for three months and I continued teaching. At the same time, I also studied IT.

Similarly, I attended a teachers’ training institute and worked as a teacher trainer. I was also a school director for some time. I participated in many workshops and prepared various research papers. If you efficiently manage your time, nothing prevents you from learning. The only thing you need is to have an ambition to acquire more knowledge. I learned a lot while I was in this university, and particularly I learned about Africa in its broader aspect during the foundation of Pan-Africa.

How was Pan-Africa established?

In our University, we were about 900 blacks from the total 40,000 students. And only 60 of the blacks were Africans. Living in the Diaspora you miss so much your home: you miss your country, your people, your culture, your relatives… Hence, as Africans, we tried to introduce and help each other. “Who knows? African unity might come tomorrow!” So we tried to come close. Each of us introduced his/her country’s culture and the people’s way of living. We started to stage fashion shows and cultural activities. Every Friday, we came together and discussed on topics that concerned the continent. In that way we were introduced to African politics. It was in such a caring environment that the Woyane invaded Eritrea. And I graduated that year.

How was the situation?

The situation is obvious to everyone. It was an obstacle to our nation building endeavors. Eritrean students made substantial contribution during and after the invasion. In the city I live, we collected as much as 300,000 dollars in one day for the national defense. The invasion obliged us to think more about our homeland, and influenced us to choose fields of specialization that could serve our country. Most of us, considering nation building, studied engineering, medicine, information technology, and other similar fields of study. Generally, the invasion strengthened our unity and enabled us to think more about our country.

What do you say about the youth festival?

I had no much time to see it all. But, the Zobas’ sites were interesting. Today, cultures are being spoiled and wiped out in the world, and identity along with it. But, what I observed in Sawa was that our youth have inherited their cultural values and are interested to preserve them. Above all, the Zagre and Sawa awards given by His Excellency President Isaias Afewerki were an excitement to me. The interest of the Government and the Union on education development is very encouraging.

You also participated in the Regional Youth Conference. What were your observations?

I found the conference to be a showcase of the dedication of the government and people of Eritrea in general and the youth in particular for peace and stability in the region. We came to understand the role the youth in solving conflicts in the region. What the Kenyan representatives loudly confirmed about us, made me proud to be an Eritrean.

Your future plans?

I will use every opportunity I have to continue my studies. I think of coming home and work with what I have already learned or I am about to learn. I plan to transfer all I know so far to my compatriots. There are papers that I have prepared for workshops, and I will try to find ways of disseminating those. I will also try to publish my research papers in a book format so that many could benefit from them. If time allows, I will publish a book on management and IT. But, my decisive plan is just to come back home for good.

Your final comments…

The N.U.E.Y.S. has to give equal focus on both the youth at home and the Diaspora. And I would like for the foreign relations department at NUEYS to strengthen its roots and human resources. The Union has to provide a ground for those who want to come to their country and contribute.