Ask EDN Question
Dear EDN,
It’s hard to meet like-minded Eritreans in my city. I’m in my late twenties and just moved, and I want to meet Eritreans since I have a strong community at home. Do you have suggestions on how and where I can meet Eritreans?
Response
Dear Reader,
Thank you for your question. Moving to a new city and trying to meet other Eritreans can be difficult, especially if you’re living in a city where the Eritrean community is not very large. We shared your question on our social media platforms and got some great advice and feedback from our EDN Community.
One thing you can consider is joining and being part of Eritrean organizations in the area. Depending on where you live, there are a number of organizations that strive to bring Eritreans together. For example, a couple of members of the EDN Community recommended Eritrean Professionals of Seattle and HADE in the San Diego area. Additionally, if you live in the DC area, EDN hosts a number of events including happy hours and workshops throughout the year, which is a great opportunity to meet other Eritreans in the DMV area. Another great way to meet other Eritreans is to look for and visit Eritrean-owned businesses, community centers, and if you are religious, churches or mosques, where Eritreans gather. This could be a great opportunity to connect with people or find out where other young Eritreans spend time.
Social media or networking platforms can be a great tool to find other Eritreans living in your new city. You can reach out to folks on LinkedIn and introduce yourself, which can also be a great opportunity to connect with Eritreans in your professional field. There are a number of Facebook groups that you can post in to ask if there are Eritreans living in your area or recommendations on where to meet other Eritreans. “Home is Where the Habesha is” is a Facebook group that comes highly recommended to meet people. Also, EDN has a GroupMe with over 300 Eritreans from across the U.S. If you haven’t done so already, consider joining the GroupMe. Take the time out to introduce yourself and mention that you are looking to connect with other Eritreans in your city. There is a good chance that someone in the GroupMe is living in your new city or can connect you with someone who does. Lastly, reach out to your family and friends to see if they know anyone in your new city that they can connect you with. However, if they do connect you with someone, it is up to you to be proactive, follow up on leads, and make plans to meet with people.
Underscoring all of these tips is that it is up to you to put forth an effort to meet people- don’t be shy! Whether it be attending events or posting on social media, it is important to be vocal about your intentions of meeting other Eritreans. Writing to EDN is a great start and we hope these tips are useful! We wish you the best of luck in your new city.
Best,
EDN