Introduction Hanna Afework

1. Who I am (name, age, background, interests, education, vocation, etc.)

My name is Hanna Afework, a deaf girl from Ethiopia. I am a participant of Addis Ababa University Information and Communication Development Office. I am a computer programmer and webmaster of the university website. I have a B.S. in information system and want to do my second degree in special needs education which is a study on disability. I think this willl help me to better utilize the technology for the needs of persons with disability.

2. What Speak Africa means to me

Speak Africa is a better way to organize the youth and to make the youth participate in leadership. It is a means of advocacy and awareness. It is a means of exchanging ideas, beliefs and culture. It is a means of getting together the yout hof Africa with out any discrimination on sex, color, ethinicity and disability. Speak Africa is all about making a better Africa through the youth.

3. Why I think it is important for young people to express themselves

Young people are tomorrow’s responsible guys for oneself country and for a better Africa so expressing and participating will prepare them for achieveing therif responsibility. We need a better Africa, a better way of living, a better way of expressing our culture, we need to work and live in our countries and after all we need peace. We need to tell our readers what we really feel and want. Expressing ourselves will gice a better chance of our readers to better understand us.

4. Issues that are important to me that I will be covering in my blog

- Equal participation of the youth in all Africa
- National Association of the youth in every country
- Accessibility issue of the Speak Africa movement and new technology for African Youth with disability.

5. What I expect from the Year of the African Youth

I expect a better participation and leadership. I expect there will be a better way for African youth to express oneself. I expect the media will play an important role in awareness. I expect to hear Bob Marley’s Unite Africa song in every African country.

6. My call for action young Africans and our leaders/elders

If you really love and want to develop Africa and your country then prepare us for leadership.