It is to be recalled that in October last year the Center for Vocational Training (CVT) in Sawa graduated for the third time 2,052 students in 19 fields within the five departments of the center. Over 52% of the graduates were females. Hidri Magazine held an interview with Mr. Fessehaie Kidane, the Director of the center, on the general situation of the CVT and its future programs. Excerpts:

Almost all societies lead their life on the basis of the traditional knowledge and skills they had accumulated over the ages. At this age, however, things are not as they had been before. These traditions that persisted for a very long time balancing the internal and external harmony of peoples have become folktales to be told as they had existed once.

Tigre language is one of the Semitic languages spoken in Eritrea. It is the second most spoken language (following Tigrigna) in the country. However, its speakers are widely distributed over the country. They are found in both the western and eastern lowlands, northern parts of Eritrea and eastern regions of the Sudan. We also find them in the highlands of Eritrea in places like Dirfo, the environs of Rebto (Irra, Me’aldi and Wara), the environs of Hazemo, Alla (Bellesto), Ubel, Seb’o and various other places.

One of the habits of the residents of Keren, and especially that of the civil servants, is eating peanuts while taking a leisure walk along the main avenue of the city. Even those who come to Keren for work, one of the things that they miss the most when they move back is the Keren Meroro, the name people of Keren give to their peanuts.

Having traveled the Asmara-Keren road many times, I knew its every part and so it didn’t make any impression on me.
It was one o’clock and there were the three of us when we set north from Keren after lunch. The heavy lunch, the scorching April sun, the bumpy road… altogether made it impossible even for two new lovebirds to converse, let alone three men who have spent the whole day together. Leaving the driver to his task, my companion and I stayed for a long time in silence. Since the only cassette in the car was that of Abrar Osman, we had no choice but to listen to it over and over again.

Ms. Roma Okbagebriel, who is seventy years old, still looks like a young lady. Her house, one room and kitchen, is as cozy as a wealthy person’s house. “I heard the good news of my son’s arrival in town one day in the early morning. By God’s will, I met him after days of desperate expectation.” said Ms. Roma remembering that day.

It is indubitable that we Eritreans dream of a developed and prosperous country that makes its nationals proud of it. Unlike some other countries, our independence was achieved after long and bitter war and the sacrifice of thousands of precious sons and daughters. Our ambition is to move forward fast by developing our creative thinking, nationalism and dedication (which has always existed in our culture) to develop our country.

It was about 10 o’clock in the morning hours. Tsega, our neighbor, told us to listen to the pleading messages transmitted through the Asmara radio made by the second revolutionary army of the Ethiopian regime. The essence of the messages was to urge the Eritrean People Liberation Front to secure the safety of the members of second revolutionary army and their families and Asmara residents stay home.