1. art and entertainment
2. music

2014
This Year’s Theme: Community
This is the 16th year of Ethiopian Heritage Camp. What began as a small gathering of families grew to over
250 people in 2009 and, after a year long haitus, our size is closer to what is was before the surge in Ethiopian
adoptions between 2008-2012. This year we are a collection of about 30 families, with kids ranging in age
between 3 and 19 years old.
Our community has changed not only in size but also in our focus. Ethiopia is a collection of many cultures,
languages, religions, regional customs. We cannot teach kids adopted as young children much about their birth
culture any better than we can attempt restore a first language lost through immigration. What we celebrate
when we come to Ethiopian Heritage Camp is our shared heritage and experience, the experience of being
Ethiopian and adopted, of being raised transnationally and often transracially, or living with the narrative
burden: “what are you?”, “who are you?” and “what’s your story?”.
Our goals are to provide parents with a deeper understanding of some of the challenges for their children.
Some of our presentations will hopefully inform and guide our understandings of the complex issues and
questions posed by transnational and transracial adoption. Our great accomplishment, however, is helping to
build a community so that both parents and children have year round resources, either in the friendships they
forge at camp or the bits and pieces, the tools, they acquire at camp.
Cover Photo: Ankober Palace Lodge, Ankober, Ethiopia, August 2008
Saturday's Program
1:00-3:30
1:30-3:30
3:00-4:00
4:00-5:30
5:30-6:30
6:30-7:30
7:30-10:00
Jabena
Registration
Location: Guardhouse
Swimming
Location: Pool
Coffee Ceremony
Location: Monterey Cafe Deck
Tie-dye a t-shirt for Monday's art
project, screen printing in Amharic.
T-shirts provided.
Location: Big Tent
Pasta Party welcome
Location: Dining Room
Field Games with Menen
Location: Field
Opening Remarks:
Culture and Identity by Helen Kassa
Bonfire, Music, and Dance
Location: Campfire
Helen Kassa, Keynote Speaker
Helen Kassa is an emerging social entrepreneur and has been involved in
humanitarian and community services since she was eight-years old. She is currently a
sophomore at Prospect High School in Saratoga, California and her family heritage is
Ethiopian. At age eight, she founded a humanitarian educational program here in the
United States and in Ethiopia, called Giving Hope to Kids Like Me. The primary
focus of her work is the utilization of education as a tool to help communities raise
themselves out of poverty. She had completed several trips back to her family
homeland and has adopted a K-8 school in Ethiopia with over 1200 students and has provided school supplies
and teaching aids and has built a science lab. Helen is currently preparing with the prominent award-winning
humanitarian Dr.Raye Mitchell, CEO and founder of G.U.R.L.S. Lead, a Global Leadership Program
(www.gurlslead.org) that provides mentoring, training, and advocacy for girls and young women to help them
become effective global leaders.
In 2012, United States Congressman Michael Honda Awarded Helen a distinguished honor and recognition of the 2012
Ethiopian Community Award. On August 10, 2013 Helen was honored with both a G.U.R.L.S. Lead Global Game Changer
Awards and a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from the United States Congresswoman Barbara Lee for the work
with Giving Hope to Kids Like Me. Here in the USA, she volunteers with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, the
Step Up to Algebra (SUTA) program, mentoring and tutoring 7th graders during her summer breaks.
Sunday's Program
9:30-10:30
9:30-12:15
11:00-12:15
1:30-3:00
1:30-3:00
3:00-5:00
6:30-7:30
8:00-10:00
Cultural Competency and Adoption
Kyra Loretelli, Oakwood Lodge
Kids Adventure Program
Meet: In front of Monterey Cafe
Please wear sneakers and
bring a water bottle.
Zip Line and Team Building (Ages 10+)
"Beaks, Birds, and Habitats" (Ages 9-)
Social Identity, Race and Adoption
Robert Doyle, Oakwood Lodge
Mask Making: Exploring our Identity with
Robin McCloskey, the Big Tent, ALL KIDS
Surviving and Thriving in Youth Sports
Sharon Van Epps, Oakwood Lodge
Swimming
Field Games with Menen
Bonfire, Music and Dancing
T'ena adam (Rue)
Robin McCloskey, Artist
Robin McCloskey is a San Francisco Bay Area printmaker, digital artist and teacher. Her work
combines photo derived and manipulated imagery with traditional and experimental
printmaking techniques. The primary elements of her work include the San Francisco Bay
and the redwood forest in which she layers ordinary objects of personal significance: chairs,
books, eyeglasses, coffee cans, shoes.
Sewasew Meaza, Artist
Sewasew Meaza, an accomplished Art & Graphic Designer, is coming from the School of
The Art Institute of Chicago, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She is a Founder of
Ethiopian Cultural Institute & Talking Art Mobile School. Sewasew was recognized for her
outstanding individual contribution to the Ethiopian community by San Jose Mayor Chuck
Reed.
Sharon Van Epps, Writer
Sharon Van Epps is a writer and mother of three internationally-adopted children who play
competitive soccer. Her work has appeared in Adoptive Families, Huffington Post, and on
her blog about adoption politics and policy, Whatever Things Are True. Her essay, "Lackeys
of Youth Soccer, That Arrogant Sport," was published last May in the Motherlode blog at
The New York Times.
Monday's Program
8:30-9:30
9:30-10:30
9:30-11:00
11:15-12:15
1:15-2:15
1:30 - 2:30
1:30 - 2:30
2:00-5:00
6:00 - 8:00
8:00-10:00
Day Campers Register in Monterey Cafe
Dorote Lucci: Mindfulness with ADULTS
Location: Oakwood Lodge
Sewasew Meaza: Print Feedel T-Shirts
Location: Big Tent
Dorote Lucci: Mindfulness with KIDS
Location: Oakwood Lodge
Adugna Worku: The Greatest Gift:
A self-sustaining school in Ethiopia.
Location: Oakwood Lodge
Sewasew Meaza: Amharic Block Prints
Location: Big Tent
Elsa Yacob: Ethiopian Hospitality:
Performing a Coffee Ceremony.
Swimming
Ethiopian Banquet:
Location Big Tent
Suprise Performance!
Bonfire, Music, Dancing
Professor Adugnaw Worku, Librarian, Educator, Musician
Adugnaw was born and brought up in northwest Ethiopia, where his parents were peasant
farmers. He has written two books, produced three cassette tapes and two CDs about
Ethiopia. Adugnaw: "My philosophy is to reach out and help people in the same way that
others reached out to me when I needed their help. With God's help, I will continue helping
others in need as I have been helped when in need. And so help me God."
Dorote Lucci, MA, CMCH, ParaB
Dorote specializes in hypnosis, mindfulness coaching, and psychophysiological processes to
facilitate self awareness. She holds a Master certification in hypnosis from the US board of
Hypnotherapists and has completed a wide range of trainings in compassion, cross cultural
conflict and specific Mindfulness approaches.
Robert Doyle, JD, MS
Robert is an attorney and graduate student at University of California at Santa Cruz,
Psychology Department. His research interests include social psychology and the criminal
justice system. Robert is also an adoptive parent to two girls, Meka and Hirut.
Tuesday's Program
9:30-10:30
9:30-10:30
11:15-12:00
12:00-12:30
12-30-1:30
Hirut guides kids in
Traditional Ethiopian Games
Location: Field
Summary Thoughts with
Amber Stime and Robert Doyle
Closing Ceremony and Slideshow
Final Coffee Ceremony
Farewell lunch
Guests are welcome to stay until 3 pm. We invite you to
hang out, enjoy the setting, and help us clean up!
Kyra Loretelli, MSW
Kyra Loretelli is an adoptee from Ethiopia. who recently graduated with a Masters in Social
Work from California State University, Stanislaus.
Kyra created a video titled " Cultural Competency Training for Perspective Adoptive
Parents" to be used in adoption agencies for training potential parents who are interested in
adopting. The video consists of interviews from "seasoned" adoptive parents and adoptees
who shared their stories and advice for those who are new and potential adoptive parents.
Amber Stime, MSW, African Cradle E.D. & Founder
Amber Tsehai Stime, MSW, the Executive Director and Founder of African
Cradle, is an Ethiopian adoptee who lost both of her hands in a land mine
accident as a toddler and was placed in an orphanage to receive medical care. At
the age of eight, she was adopted by an American couple and grew up in
Minnesota. She received her Masters degree in Social Work from St. Olaf College
in Northfield, Minnesota.
Amber is a recognized leader in transracial, multi-cultural adoption and has
received numerous awards for her outstanding dedication to children and families,
including, most recently, the 2014 Local Heroes Award, presented by the
Midpeninsula Community Media Center of Mountain View, CA.
Thank You Volunteers!
Kalkidan Curtis
Zenebech & Larry Dover
Robert Doyle
Misrak Dubale
Zinash & Wandwosen Getachew
Helen Kassa
Dorote Lucci
Robin McCloskey
Sewasew Meaza
Hana Richards
Filimon Richardson
Menen Tesfahun
Cara Townsend
Sharon Van Epps
Professor Adugna Worku
Elsa Yacob
Jennifer Zilliac
Ethiopian Community Resources
San Jose: Ethiopian Community Services
1295 Johnson Ave.
www.ecssanjose.org
(408) 297-7638
Oakland: Ethiopian Community and Cultural Center
6116 Telegraph Avenue
www.ethiopianccc.org
(510) 268-4770
Sacramento: Ethiopian Community Center of Sacramento
eccsacto@gmail.com, www.eccsacto.org
Los Angeles: Little Ethiopia Cultural & Resource Center
1034 1/2 South Fairfax Blvd
(310) 633-4830
Seattle: Ethiopian Community Center
8323 Rainier Ave South
info@ecseattle.org, www.ecseattle.org
206-325-0304
Upcoming 2014/2015 Ethiopian Holidays
Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year) Thursday, September 11, 2014
Enkutatash, which means “Gift of Jewels” is the celebration of the Ethiopian New Year. Ethiopia follows the
Julian calendar, which consists of 13 months - 12 months each with 30 days and a final month with 5 days (6
days in leap year).
Genna (Ethiopian Christmas Day) Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Genna is Ethiopian Christmas. The feast marks the end of the 40-day fasting period of Advent. This event
commemorates the story of Jesus Christ’s birth, according to the Christian Bible.
Derg Downfall Day, Thursday, May 28, 2015
The National Day of Ethiopia remembers the collapse of the oppressive Derg regime, which governed the
country from 1974 to 1991 and ousted Emperor Haile Selassie in 1975. The Derg regime is also characterized by
the Ethiopian Civil War, which lasted from 1974 to 1991.
Eid-al-Fitr, Saturday, July 18, 2015
Eid-al-Fitr is a holiday to mark the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast during the
hours of daylight. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar; Muslims worldwide observe this as a
month of fasting. This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Thank you to www.abebatoursethiopia.com and www.timeanddate.com for these holiday descriptions.
Sing! Yasteseryal by Tewodros Kassahun (Teddy Afro)
Jah yasteseryal, jah yasteseryal (2x)
Girmawinetachew kesi’seregela
Wode’wagel wordew, siteku beleyla
Bazawuntoch irass, silsa gudguad missa
Abiyot molachiw, yetemari reyssa
Jah yasteseryal, jah yasteseryal (2x)
Basra’sebat merfey, beTeQemeuw QumTa
Le’lewuT yagofereuw, zufan la’y siwoTa
Endamnaw baleQen, yamnawun ke’QeTa
Addis nigus enji, lewuT meche meTa
YiQir belewina, yebedelen weQiseh
Mihret astemiren, ahnd argen meliseh
Jah yasteseryal, jah yasteseryal (2x)
Yee mama Etyopia, yee mama Abyssinia
Yee mama Etyopiaye, yee mama Sabawi Israel
Yee mama Etyopia si’mi, yee mama Abyssinia
Yee mama Qim beQel kiffu neuw, yee mama Abyssinia
Yee mama k’Amlak yaleyayal, yee mama Abyssinia
Yee mama tewado metkakil,
QiTat yasteseryal , ohhh yasteseryal. Jah!
Jah yasteseryal, jah yasteseryal (2x)
Heyy Jah!
Jah yasteseryal, jah yasteseryal
Zese’at le’Etyopia, wodetesfa Ouzo
Bahirun miyashagir, ahnd Musse yizo
Qirb neuw ayriQim, ye’Etyopia tinsa’e
Bandinet kegeban, yefikir suba’e
Jah yasteseryal, jah yasteseryal (2x)
Fikir’aten enji, berhab yeteTeqan
Aferu gerager, midru mech’asaTan
Ossisa, ossisa, ossisa Amanuela
YiQir Aba billo, endasTale billa
Betesfawa meryet, emifeTsem Qalu
Moferun yazuna, yiQir tebabalu. Jah!
Jah yasteseryal, jah yasteseryal (2x)
Yee mama Etyopia, yee mama Abyssinia
Yee mama Etyopiaye, yee mama Sabawi Israel
Yee mama Etyopia si’mi, yee mama Abyssinia
Yee mama Etyopia’ye, yee mama atsemagnim woyi
beyiw
Yee mama mamaye’ye
Yee mama Jah mallet feTari, yee mama meserey yiQirta
Yee mama igna siniwaded, yee mama yisemashal Getta
Yee mama elohey, elohey, yee mama mamaye’ye
Yee mama esti tewadedu, yee mama yiyayaz ejachihu,
beliyunetachihu
Yee mama alebeleziyama, yee mama bemin yastawuQal
egnan mewdedachihu yee mama
Yee mama abet siQay abet Teney
Yee mama semay CHekino bewogeney
Yee mama sint asalifen, alqisen sanabara blen woyne
Yee mama ezih gar demo leyla tikusat
Yee mama wogene aleQe bewosib isat, isat, isat
Yee mama ere’aynegam woy, aynegam woy, aynegam
woy leyttu Etyopiaye
Yee mama emamaye, Sabawi Israel
Yee mama emamaye, yee mama emamayeee
Repeat till it fades
Thank you to wwwethiozeima.com for this transliteration of Yasteseryal.
Yee mama yiheym bekifu Qal, yee mama Abyssinia
Yee mama yihenin siwoQiseuw, yee mama Abyssinia
Yee mama yiheym beTilacha, yee mama Abyssinia
Yee mama yihenin siwoQiseuw, yee mama Abyssinia
Yee mama meleyet aQaten yemibejenin seuw, ohhh
yasteseryal. Jah!
Yee mama elohey, elohey, yee mama lamasebetagni
Ethiopian Heritage Camp Language Program 2014
Watch the videos on African Cradle's YouTube Playlist titled, "Ethiopian Heritage Camp 2014 Amharic
Language Program". Try to use as many of the phrases as you can at camp! Also try to sing along with
Yasteseryal by Teddy Afro. A transliteration is on the previous pages of the program. Let's all speak Amharic!!
English
You arrived!
How are you?
I'm fine.
Please
Thank you!
No Problem!
Transliteration (male)
NOHR
in-DEM-min neh?
Deh-na-ñAY
ih BAH keh
AH-mah-say-guh-NAH-loh
Chigger yeh-LEM
Transliteration (female)
NOHR-ee
in-DEM-min nehsh?
Deh-na-ñAY
ih BAH kesh
AH-mah-say-guh-NAH-loh
Chigger yeh-LEM
Excuse me/I'm sorry
How did you spend the night?
What is your name?
Do you want to drink coffee?
Do you want to eat Kolo?
Do you want to swim?
Okay
Yes
No
Where is the bathroom?
I like/love you!
Beautiful!
Good job!
Yiqirta
in-DEM-min ah-DEHRK?
SIH meh mah no?
Buna mäT'äT'at tefelegaleh?
Kolo meblat tefelegaleh?
Wana mäwanyät tefelegaleh?
e'shi
awo
iedellem
yeat.no shin-TEH-BAYT?
Iwedihalehu!
Konjo!
Gobez!
Yiqirta
in-DEM-min ah-DERSH?
SIH mesh mahn no?
Buna mäT'äT'at tefelegalesh?
Kolo meblat tefelegalesh
Wana mäwanyät tefelegalesh?
e'shi
awo
iedellem
yeat.no Shin-TEH-BAYT?
Iwedishalehu
Konjo!
Gobez!
Thanks to Learn Amharic Ethiopian Language for these images.
Please like them on Facebook. www.facebook.com/LearnAmharicEthiopianLanguage
Walia Ethiopian Cuisine
Our food is meticulously prepared under the supervision of a seasoned cook Aster
Teklemichael. Our menu reflects eclectic Ethiopian foods and numerous spices that
are unique to Ethiopia. Come.Taste & Enjoy.
2208 Business Circle
San Jose, CA 95128
www.waliaethiopian.com
(408) 645-5001
Albo African Gift Shop
Albo – a word that has such a deep meaning to young girls in Ethiopia epitomizes the
mindset of the young founders of this special store in between Oakland and Berkeley.
It means “anklet” in the Ethiopian language “Amharic”. Young girls coming of age in
Ethiopia wore anklets as an expression of beauty - as if their striking natural facial
beauty was insufficient.
6421 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, California 94609
www.alboafrican.com
(510) 428-2526
Friends! :-P
Meals in the Dining Room
Breakfast:
8:30-9:30 (Sun, Mon, Tue)
Lunch:
12:30 - 1:30 (Sun, Mon, Tue)
Dinner:
5:30 - 6:30 (Sat, Sun)
6:00-8:00 (Monday, Big Tent)
Coffee Ceremonies on the Monterey Cafe Deck
Saturday:
3:00-4:00
Sunday:
10:30-11:00
3:00-3:30
Monday:
10:30-11:00
2:30-3:30
Tuesday:
12:00-12:30