By Tesfu Tilahun

The Addis-Nekemt road passes through some of the most scenic parts of highland Ethiopia as it descends to the lowlands of the Gibe River.
As the RYLA 2007 convoy drove on to its destination of Ambo town it was obvious that the youth in the buses were sobered by a bitter sweet thought - Why aren’t we doing better to save what remains of our forest cover… can we reverse past ecological disasters?
These musings were more profound as RYLA 2007 passed through the foothills of Mount Menagesha. The landscape is so well-forested it should be widely promoted as a rare sample of the immense loss of national forest cover. Was all our country once as beautiful as Menagesha forest is today?
The highway curves around the mountain and at 55kms is the still-born, once capital city-to-be of Addis Alem. It is also the last significant town before we approach Ambo. Of course, the route is positively chock a block with fancy flower farms boasting rows of futuristic looking greenhouses.
Once arrived in Ambo, the discriminating eye notes fine if worn Italian buildings. Several hotels, the post office and a few government offices are housed in the Art-deco architecture so common to Italian construction in Ethiopia.
The Ambo Ethiopia Hotel was the venue of a notable achievement by Rotary clubs of Addis Ababa and also of the motivated and inspiring chairperson, Rotarian Teguest Yilma.
The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards or more conveniently RYLA, is a Rotary International initiative which aims to foster leadership skills of its members with the stated objectives of:
• Demonstrating further Rotary respect and concern for youth
• Encouraging and assisting selected youth leaders and potential leaders in responsible and effective voluntary youth leadership by providing them with a training experience
• Encouraging continued and stronger leadership of youth by youth
• Publicly recognizing the high qualities of many young people who are rendering service to their communities as youth leaders
RYLA 2007 was an inaugural program in Ethiopia and is on to a great start. This was displayed on the weekend of May 26-27, 2007 at a training program conducted on the grounds of Ambo Ethiopia Hotel for close to 100 youth members from the seven Rotaract clubs in Addis Ababa.
It was a festive atmosphere which included invited guests, members of state and private media and last but by no means least, the professionals of SAK Business and Personal Development – a consultancy firm with a proven track record.
A preliminary training session was conducted in Addis Ababa on May 12th for the same participants.
The much anticipated second round two-day training in leadership skills and personal development was to begin early Saturday (May 26th) morning. A great sense of camaraderie and good natured teasing accompanied the unpacking and camp orientation. Not even the torrential rain earlier in the day and the ominous clouds overhead could dim the enthusiasm of the campers as they quickly settled down and got ready to the launching of the program; becoming instant buddies. Camping out does that to you.
SAK–Business and Personal Development, a home grown consultancy, is arguably the most pre-eminent provider of life-skills enhancement and motivational training programs. SAK has successfully offered its innovative training to among others state organizations, various NGOs such as Prison Fellowship Ethiopia, Save the Children USA, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung; Harrar Brewery, Awassa Textiles; the Embassy of Canada, and others, including the CAPITAL newspaper’s publishers, management and staff.
SAK prepares training manuals tailored to the target organization or group, making its program highly effective due to its adaptability to the specific requirement of trainees.
RYLA being a wholly youth centered activity, SAK’s exercises, mind games, group activities and multi-media displays were designed to appeal, teach and promote youth interaction.
This reporter was quick to note the efficiency of the ‘Rotaractors’, as youth Rotarians from 18 to 30 years of age are called.
The RYLA 2007 participants and veteran Rotarians met punctually at 1:00 pm at the rendez-vous point at Meskal Square. There were virtually no stragglers as the buses, escorted by several cars sped to Ambo. Once having arrived at the camp site, the Rotaractors representing Abugida, Lewt, Alegnta, Mela, Soliana, Keroggie and Rae’y clubs, split up into tight groups. This elicited a first question.
I aproached a pair of Rotaractors. The boy was about 24, clean cut and busily concentrating on untangling dozens of bags to distribute to participants. The girl standing beside him was patiently checking a list, ticking off names as participants received their bags. Both Rotaractors exuded that … something …an alertness …a sort of instant cooperativeness that marks Rotarians worldwide.
‘Hi –I’m from the CAPITAL newspaper and was wondering if one of you could tell me how all of you know exactly what to do and with whom?”
“Well”, said the girl, Fikirte Teklehaimanot, Secretary of the RYLA 2007 organizing committee and member of Abugida Rotaract club, while her friend finished dispensing the last bag. “We have set up 10 teams that are organized to perform specific tasks. For example, we are in the Documentation committee or rather the Elephancy team, which is responsible for recording all activities of pre-RYLA as well as during and after the program. The Ecology and Environment committee, known as the Cats team, is responsible for preventing unnecessary environmental damage during RYLA activities. Others are the two Entertainment committees – The Monkeys; the committees of Food – Mother Goose; Drinks – the Ants; Transportation – Shoebill; Security – The Lions; First Aid - Dolphins and Camping team – The Eagles.”
She added, “The tasks entrusted to each committee and through that to individual members have created the clarity of a common vision to fulfill the Rotarian code of principles which is in a nutshell, all about assuming social responsibilities.”
Teguest Yilma is RYLA/Rotaractor chair for 2006/07 and past President of the Rotary club of Addis Ababa Entoto and RYLA 2007 Elephancy team leader. Having devoted extensive efforts to organize this first ever RYLA program in Ethiopia, an elated Teguest welcomed the participants on the Friday evening. “It is an honor to be here with you on this important milestone in Rotarian activity in Ethiopia. Welcome to RYLA 2007 – the first Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program. RYLA is hereafter an annual event and it is with this thought in mind that I urge all Rotaractors to note the significance of this event. I respectfully advise you to take maximum advantage of this professionally prepared leadership training program. It will not only be beneficial to Rotarian objectives but also to your personal development as model citizens.”
The training session began with insights into goal setting and group logo inception to foster a spirit of competitive fun.
There was also a treasure hunt… the twist is that the treasure to find was as many good things to say to others as possible… just like opening an emotional bank account. The treasure hunt included obtaining hard to find but worthless items in an exercise designed to hone negotiation skills under unusual circumstances.
The ensuing discussions generated by these interactive exercises were followed by lunches and dinners served punctually by Mother Goose and Ants. The Cats were on the spot clearing away leftovers, keeping the area as clean as when they found it. All teams conducted their duties with competence, displaying a maturity that belies their youth. The Lions were vigilant in security, the Eagles set up immaculate camp, and the Dolphins were just like their name sake, treating light travel ailments. The Monkeys on their part ensured that RYLA 2007 was as fun as it was serious. The Shoebills provided the participants with well coordinated logistics and transportation in the manner of professional tour companies and Elephancy were busily engaged in documenting and reporting the historic event with an efficiency that made this reporter wonder if he was redundant.
A highlight of RYLA 2007 was the community tour which had various groups assigned to visit the local jail, the hospital and public facilities such as toilettes including exposed sewage sights along the river. The Rotaractors then reported back to the assembly and discussed about the problems identified along with suggested solutions.
Other topics that RYLA 2007 leadership and skill development training fostered were Conflict Management, Freedom to Choose, Self Esteem and Self Awareness among others.
In addition, veteran Rotarians Dr. Berhanu Tadesse and District Governor Nominee Dr. Tadesse Alemu delivered lectures on the benefits Rotaractors can gain from Rotary and what the general aims and objectives of Rotary are respectively.
Rotarian Teguest Yilma conveyed to the participants her complete satisfaction of the way RYLA Ethiopia 2007 was conducted and also relayed the belief that the young Rotaractors have embarked on a one way path to individual success as well as toward becoming socially contributing members of the society.
On behalf of the Rotaractors and the RYLA Ethiopia 2007 organizing committee, Teguest extended her appreciations to the management and staff of Ambo Ethiopia Hotel for displaying great hospitality and especially to the owner Ato Takele Tadesse who sponsored the venue, and to Travel Ethiopia who kindly provided all the necessary camping equipment.
A special thank you to those Rotarians who went out of their way to help make this RYLA a success, by making financial and or contributions in kind including Rotarians Jean Paul Blavier (BGI), Diego Sanchez, Bambis, Jessican (Sangham), Kebour Ghenna, Col. Dominique Jacqmin, Alan Bromhead, Isayas, Dr. Mitiku, Ameleworque, Abebe. Mention should also be made of Coca Cola and Abyssinia Springs companies who contributed towards beverages.
Appreciations also to the mentors, team leaders and coordinators without whom the success of RYLA Ethiopia 2007 would not have been assured - Country chair Samrawit Moges, District Governor nominee Dr. Tadesse Alemu, and Rotarians - Melbana Seifu, Gebre Egziabher Bekele, Dr. Berhanu Tadesse, PDG Nahu Senaye Araya, Rtn Tina Malone and family, Umberto and Ada Lopa.
To the Rotaractors, she said, “You have all competed fairly, and it will not be a simple matter to select a winner from a collection of winners.”
This has been a very promising beginning for a first time event. See you all at RYLA 2008!