What’s an ROA Part X: Gelila
At long last, the Xth (can you do that with roman numerals?) edition of “What’s an ROA”!
Hello my name is Gelila Asnake and I am a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania. I was born and raised in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, where I attended an international French school. My move to the US in 2003 was a surprising one, but also one that opened doors to many of my dreams. I started activism work at Westchester High School in Los Angeles, taking part in a union that I am passionate about: the Bus Riders’
Union, a project of the Labor/Community Strategy Center, promotes environmentally sustainable public transportation for the entire Los Angeles population, on the premise that affordable, efficient, and environmentally sound mass transit is a human right.
BRU members fight for the expansion of social, political and economic rights of historically oppressed communities in the struggle for economic democracy and redistribution of wealth. We all know LA is the most polluted city in the US and less accessible public transportation system in the country. If you live/study in the LA area, check out the BRU. Here is a link to their site: http://www.busridersunion.org/engli/index.html. I also did door to door voter registration and education in South Central.
Although I am not an American, I feel obliged to tell Americans how privileged they are to live in a country that holds presidential candidate debates that airs on public television, and to write to their senators to voice their concerns. Where I come from, these privileges are nonexistent or corrupt. I always believed that to create change you need to be in an environment where people are willing to hear what you have to say. The US did just that.
At the ONE Campaign, I am able to join other Americans who believe extreme poverty, malaria, fair trade, to name a few, are important issues of our generation.
The truth is that we are at a time in history, where countries such as the USA who benefited greatly from globalization have the tools to end poverty in third world countries. How willing are we as Americans is the only question remaining. I believe I have a moral obligation to promote this cause as an young Ethiopian woman who has witnessed these conditions at first hand. If you want to know more about my experience growing up in Addis, please contact me. I love talking about my people, my culture and my history, so don’t hesitate. If you are a Upenn student, please join our facebook group at http://upenn.facebook.com/group.php?gid=13807675098.
TAGS: ROA, UPA