Much of the world has changed since we last attended Atse Yohannes School. To compete globally, graduates of the school need the most current tools for learning—from their classrooms, laboratories and libraries to their sport fields. But attaining these goals are not simple challenges for any community let alone for our community that has one of the lowest per capita income in the world.

Even though Atse Yohannes School remains the main institution by which we attempt to shape up our youth as future leaders, change never seems to touch the gates of our alma mater in so many ways. Even if one argues that there are significant changes in our beloved school, the trend seems to be in the opposite direction. The changes we are witnessing today, such as, very crowded classrooms with an ever-shrinking school hours per school day (due to the shift system), crumbling walls, blackboards ridden with holes, and the chronic shortages of chairs and desks, etc., are not the exact directional changes that we were hoping to see for our future generation of students.

Given these disappointing developments, many alumni and friends of Atse Yohannes School have been reflecting about these changes and the fate waiting for their alma mater. The past several years have been years of critical reflections in appreciating the efforts of those teachers who have opened the gateway to opportunities for all us. These reflections brought much deserved recognition of the difficulties faced by the school in shaping the students values and in setting its goals for a brighter future. The teachers of the school are preparing their daily lesson plans on overcoming equally difficult circumstances. It is exactly this kind of train of thought and reflections that have reinforced our deep sense of community we feel as alumni and commit ourselves to become an active participant in shaping the future prospect of our brothers and sisters.

When a group of visionary and committed alumni came together and decided to establish a vital link between alumni and their alma mater, it was not very hard to imagine the excitement it would generate inside the school and in the alumni community. Even though there was much talk about establishing an association for a long period of time, the dreams of so many well-meaning alumni and friends only became a reality on January 11th of 2003 during the first meeting in Atlanta, GA. The association has reaped the benefits of the hard work of these dedicated alumni and we are so grateful for their commitments.

I believe our association has been very successful in planting the basic foundations that sustain the connection between alumni of the school and their alma mater. However, addressing all the school’s problems, understandably an attractive wish to all of our members, provides an ongoing challenge to our association’s programs. I can only hope that all alumni will assist in addressing those challenges wherever possible and to serve as role models for loyalty to our beloved school.

A primary focus for the association this year will be to improve our outreach to all alumni (wherever they are living)—who will eventually provide both the leadership (at local, regional, national and international level) for our association and the support of our alma mater. As a first step in this process, we plan to add a number of young alumni to our various committees of the association. We, the officers of the association, are eager to absorb their energy, enthusiasm and ideas. We are confident that they will help us foster understanding by alumni of the concerns of current students and recent graduates. We also will continue to work closely with individuals and the school in providing alumni contact information.

I think it was Walt Disney who once said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” As the incoming president of the AYAA, I can attest that our association is blessed with having both dreamers and doers who are committed to take this association to its full potential. I can also attest that the Board of Members have undertaken a period of reflection to fully appreciate each individual’s contributions, as well as the appreciation of having an association that functions with a strong sense of accountability and transparency with which potential members’ willingness to assist us will ultimately depend.

Thank you,

Halefom Belay, President of AYAA