Executive Director Mohamed Yahya speaks at the washington center

February 11, 2008

            On Monday, February 11, 2008, Mohamed Yahya spoke to a group of approximately 200 students at The Carnegie Institute for Science in Washington D.C. The students, participants in The Washington Center’s program for Internships and Academic Seminars, were greatly moved by Mr. Yahya’s passionate and zealous speech. Mr. Yahya shared his personal account of the Janjaweed attacks on his village in 1993 and how the genocide in Darfur has affected his family and friends. He discussed how he has been active in alerting the international community to these atrocities through non-violent demonstrations and the power of the pen. He urged the students to write letters to their legislators, to raise awareness through discussion, and to remind others that they are not powerless in the fight against genocide.

     Mr. Yahya received overwhelming support from the students as well as a standing ovation. His speech was powerful and honest, allowing students the opportunity to connect a face and personality to the crisis in Darfur. In this sense, the humanitarian disaster and merciless killings of Darfur that are commonplace to Mr. Yahya became a tangible reality for the students. Mr. Yahya’s speech at the Carnegie Institute for Science on Monday is one event in a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the genocide in Darfur.

     As a student of The Washington Center, I was privileged enough to attend Monday’s event. I was astounded by the atrocities that Mr. Yahya discussed and disappointed by the lack of international acknowledgment prior to 2004. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to hear Mr. Yahya’s story and I remain in awe of his optimism and hopefulness. I feel that Mr. Yahya’s unwavering faith in humanity and the international community is an inspiration and reminder to us all that we can create a change and help end genocide in Darfur.

Gina Barbone (Intern, Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy).