Looking after families of fallen heroes

Meadna is running the story board on the Eritreans who visit back home and do great work by adopting families and visiting the families of the heroes who fell to bring us independence and secure the sovereignty. We also have the forms attached for all to print, fill up and take along to the embassy. Meadna invites all Eritreans who are taking part on this noble cause to share their stories and/or pictures by emailing to webmaster@meadna.com . Today we have an interview with Jonathan Okbamichael Haile of London.

Meadna - How did you get to adopt a family

J.O.H. - When I attended a public seminar for current issues, I heard about the scheme. I heard about the scheme when I attended a martyr’s day remembrance annual walk.

Meadna - How do you think people can help?

J.O.H. - Eritreans, if capable should adopt one family each, if that is not possible they can do it as a group of two or more, or as a family. This is done by feeling the forms which are attached, and giving it to the embassy. People can also join the committee by taking part in its meetings. And more can be done by donating to the martyr’s fund and raising funds.

Meadna- How does the scheme work?

J.O.H. - Community services in the Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare works in 18 stations set up in all administrative regions to make the payments. And nationals who started this scheme also make visits to their respective adopted families and make a life long relationship of unique bond. All of this is done via the Embassies and in particular by the Martyr’s Families Adopting Committee who run the drive to raise awareness and call Eritreans to honour the commitment people start.

Meadna- How do people get in touch?

J.O.H. - After you start the adoption process, by filling the right forms, you get allocated a family. Their detail is given to you. When ever you are in Eritrea you can also get their address and visit the family and start the communication.

A mother wrote a letter to thank for the good deed…that after finishing the letter caused emotion…the fact that she had to do all the effort to track me and wanting to thank me personally is the most heart warming. Some of the contents of this letter are:
To the Eritrean Embassy in London …I need the address of a good doer Eritrean who resides in London by the name Jonathan Okbamichael. There reason I need his address is because my relation and Sister Lemlem Weldemariam, a resident of Tekonda [zoba debub], who is the wife of a martyr and the mother of a martyr, is looking to thank him directly for his donations as an adoption monetary help has arrived…….

Meadna – what would you like to add?

…..first of all I would like thank the mother of my martyr brother and wife of martyred father for her kind words and efforts to track me. But above all I am grateful for the encouragement she gave me in doing more to help, and I didn’t think it deserves such thanking for doing your national duty. And I hope more people adopt families like this for a mere £20 a month. I would like to thank all those who have completed their commitment and inspired me to adopt.  

Click here to print adoption form

Click here for detailed information on project