Sawa: The Melting Pot of Nationalism and Social Justice
By Hadnet Keleta
As a young person, the thought of leaving my family, my comfort zone, and everything familiar to go to Sawa felt overwhelming. Fear came first. I remember the uncertainty, the negative thoughts, and the quiet question in my mind: Will I manage?
But the moment we arrived in Sawa, something began to shift.
At first, it was hard to explain. Then, day by day, it became clearer. The environment began to change me. Confidence slowly replaced fear. What I had expected to be isolating became deeply connecting. Everywhere, there was care, respect, and a sense of shared community. People shared everything, their food, their belongings, their stories, and their struggles.
On the hardest days, when exhaustion took over, it was the laughter that carried us. The small jokes, the games, and the simple companionship brought light into difficult routines. Compassion was not something rare; it was part of daily life.
Slowly, I adapted. We all did. What began as a group of strangers became something much stronger—a bonded family.
In Sawa, it does not matter whether you come from the east or west, north or south. Those identities do not disappear, but they transform. You begin to see yourself not just as an individual from one home, but as part of a nation. And in that realization, you begin to understand why national service exists.
From Experience to Understanding
Through my experience, I came to see that Sawa is far more than a place—it is one of Eritrea’s most influential national institutions. It is where education, discipline, equality, and national identity come together in a way that cannot be fully understood without living it.
This system did not emerge randomly. It was established in 1992, immediately after Eritrea’s independence, following a long and difficult thirty-year liberation struggle. Later formalized under Proclamation 82/1995, national service was designed with broad and interconnected goals: security, development, education, culture, and nation-building.
Understanding this history changed how I saw my own experience. What I lived in Sawa is part of a larger national vision shaped by the realities of independence.
After liberation, Eritrea faced the challenge of transitioning from war to peace. Thousands of fighters had to be reintegrated into civilian life, while the country itself needed to be built from the ground up. National service became a way to organize this transition—to build human capacity while maintaining readiness.
Initially, it was designed as a structured and time-limited program. But history took a different turn. The outbreak of war with Ethiopia in 1998 transformed the nature of national service. What had been planned as a limited system became extended due to security realities, placing new demands on the country and its people.
As someone who experienced Sawa years later, I began to understand how these historical events shaped the system we live in today. The policies we experience are not isolated—they are responses to real challenges. In this sense, the Sawa generation can be seen as the continuation—the offspring—of the resilient Sahel generation that secured Eritrea’s independence.
Education and Unity: Warsay-Yikealo Secondary School
At the heart of Sawa is the Warsay-Yikealo Secondary School, where students complete their final year of high school while participating in national service.
This is more than academic learning—it is a lesson in unity. Students from all regions come together, bringing different languages, cultures, religions, and traditions. At the beginning of adulthood, this experience shapes them into confident, disciplined, hardworking, and capable young people.
Having taught two semesters at Warsay-Yikealo, I witnessed students’ determination firsthand. Free from many external pressures—financial burdens, household responsibilities—they focus fully on their growth. Everything they need is provided. The expectation is simple but powerful: to become competent, resilient, and productive citizens.
Living and studying together creates understanding naturally. You learn from each other in ways no classroom alone can teach. Equality becomes something you experience daily.
Skills for Nation Building
Sawa also emphasizes vocational training, equipping youth with practical skills such as construction, agriculture, and mechanics.
What stood out to me was how directly these skills connect to real life and the nation-building process. You begin to see how what you learn can contribute to building schools, improving infrastructure, or supporting agriculture. Education becomes more than personal—it becomes national.
Discipline, Growth, and Transformation
The military training component of Sawa is one of its most challenging aspects. It demands physical strength, mental endurance, and discipline.
Many young people struggle at first—especially with the early mornings. The 4 a.m. whistle feels unforgiving. But over time, it reshapes you. Waking early becomes a habit. Discipline becomes part of your character.
There were moments when we felt pushed beyond our limits. But those moments were where growth happened. Through structured routines and shared challenges, we developed resilience and a strong sense of responsibility.
More importantly, we learned that strength is not just individual—it comes from unity and teamwork. The training shapes both the mind and the body.
I remember a friend of mine, Tesfit. He came from a well-off family but lacked discipline. He avoided responsibility, ignored his father’s attempts to teach him their family trade, and lived a carefree life.
When he arrived in Sawa, he struggled deeply. The early mornings, the hard training, the shared responsibilities—it was all overwhelming.
But slowly, he changed.
Although he did not pass the matriculation exam, he joined the vocational training center. He trained, graduated, and eventually became a machine shop instructor.
When he returned home on leave, something remarkable happened. He woke up at 4 a.m. and told his father, “Let’s go to work. I want to help.” His father could hardly believe the transformation.
Today, Tesfit owns a successful mechanic shop. He often speaks about how Sawa changed his life—from a careless young man into a disciplined, hardworking, and visionary individual.
His story is not unique. It reflects what Sawa is designed to do.
Equality, Diversity, and Lifelong Bonds
One of the most powerful aspects of Sawa is how equality is practiced. Everyone, regardless of background, is treated the same. Male and female participants train, learn, and lead equally.
At the same time, Sawa brings together Eritrea’s diversity. People from different ethnic and religious backgrounds live side by side, sharing experiences and building genuine connections.
I saw how differences that might divide people elsewhere became sources of understanding in Sawa. It showed me that unity does not require uniformity—it requires vision, respect, and shared purpose.
When you travel across Eritrea later, you realize you have many homes, many brothers and sisters. The love and compassion cultivated in Sawa never fades—it continues to grow. As we say, “ሳዋ የላሊ’ምበር ኣየማኑን’ዩ”—Sawa is something you carry within you.
The Warsay-Yikealo Vision
Through Sawa, we begin to understand the deeper meaning of the Warsay-Yikealo Campaign—the connection between the generation that fought for independence and the generation responsible for building the nation.
It is not just a concept; it is something you feel. You realize that you are part of a larger story, and that your role matters.
National service plays a central role in shaping Eritrea’s youth and national capacity. It contributes to defense, development, and social cohesion.
At the same time, the experience is complex. It involves challenges, sacrifices, and realities shaped by history. Understanding both its purpose and its difficulties is essential to understanding Sawa itself.
Conclusion: What Sawa Leaves Within You
Sawa is not just a place you go—it is an experience that stays with you.
For many of us, it is a journey from fear to confidence, from individuality to collective identity. It challenges you, shapes you, and changes how you see yourself and your country.
Sawa represents more than training or education. It represents transformation—where young people become part of something larger than themselves.
Ultimately, it shows that nation-building is not only about policies or structures. It is about people—people who learn to live together, grow together, and carry forward a shared purpose.
And long after leaving Sawa, that sense of unity, responsibility, and belonging remains. You find yourself asking about your comrades—“ደቂ ኣሃዱ”—who have become your extended family.
