It is not always easy or possible to maintain one's cultural heritage in a new country. Sometimes ethnic communities come together in a more organized way to collectively take on the role of making sure that their traditions and language are passed on to the next generation. In the U.S, summer cultural camps take place for this purpose.In a BBC article by Damian Zane we learn about the summer camps to help Ethiopian children keep their cultural heritage. Dances are performed during this camp.
Hermela Kebede, who runs Washington's Ethiopian Community Center explains, "They still have to keep their heritage - that's who they are, and it will make them proud”. About 35 children attend this camp in Washington DC. The article says, "Estimates vary, but there are thought to be more than 200,000 Ethiopians in the Washington metropolitan area, by far the city's largest and most visible African diaspora group...Most Ethiopian immigrants arrived in America in the 1990s after the Eritrean-Ethiopian war."The article has brief interviews with some of the kids about their dual identity. One of the camp counselors says she immigrated to the U.S when she was 9. Her parents especially through native foods helped her keep the connection with her homeland. She concludes, "So culture helps me identify with who I am as an Ethiopian-American and stand out from the crowd." Please see the link below for the full article.
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