Dear KAYO Members and Supporters, Xusk û Birayanî birêz:

Firstly: On behalf of the Kurdish American Youth Organization, I'd like to thank all of our guest speakers, members and attendees for coming together today and being a part of this important event.

It is not often that we are able to set aside some time to be together, share our ideas, discuss important topics, and focus on issues that affect and remain a part of each and every one of our lives.

Thank you all for being here.

The Kurdish American Youth was founded over two years ago by a group of individuals with a vision to create unity among the dispersed Kurdish youth living across North America. The main idea was to bring this newly emerged young Kurdish generation – of which we were members – together, to share ideas and to engage in positive activities that can help each of us in various aspects. However, the most basic value that we all seemed to share and still do – a value that brought us together – was the responsibility to continue a legacy, established by our parents and their parents, of giving back to our own people and giving back to Kurdistan.

The Kurdish American Youth Organization – or KAYO – was established to bridge the gap between the desires of the Kurdish youth to uphold that basic value and the ability to be active in fulfilling it. KAYO excelled in its almost three years as an organization incorporating young Kurdish members – and even non-Kurds – all over the United States from many different backgrounds. And regardless of member background, the new vision and culture established by KAYO was one that we all share a common ground as Kurds – or in the case of non-Kurds, as supporters – and nothing could break that bond.

In the past few years, our members have engaged themselves in a wide variety of projects ranging from activities focusing on community development and raising awareness of the Kurdish cause to various research projects to fundraising efforts to help aid the less fortunate families in Kurdistan.

We have active committees for projects involving research of Kurdish history; projects that involve the collection of statistical data of Kurdish students and professionals; various events to simply bring together the Kurdish communities or enlighten the non-Kurdish communities; and other projects headed by committees that are determined to fill the large gap between the Kurdish youth in North America and those in Kurdistan.

Today, our members and supporters – as evident by this event – continue to bring together more of some of the most necessary ideas and present some of the most interesting discussions. And while many of the ideas discussed just today have been presented with great potentials, it remains up to the youth to put these ideas into action.

I have confidence in the Kurdish youth and in this organization for it's nearly three years of experience and because its members have remained so active in pursuing the various goals set forth. KAYO continues to function as an establishment that brings together young motivated Kurds allowing them to work together. However, KAYO and other establishments like it can only provide structure and guidance in their projects and activities. It is up to the living body – the actual members, the youth – to determine and shape KAYO and to put their ideas into practice.

We, the Kurdish Youth, are proud to be part of a successful organization in existence that has overcome some of the most difficult obstacles reaching what it has reached today. And although KAYO – like other like-minded organizations that preceded it – has indeed reached high goals, there is so much more to achieve. We should always be proud of our achievements but we should never remain satisfied no matter how far we happen to go. There is always room for more. The skies the limit, as they say.

I believe that each of here to today in Dallas has a privilege; a privilege of being here in the freer part of the world to be able to pursue whatever dreams and goals we set forth. We have the privilege of leading a life that so many in Kurdistan under the oppression that exists are unable to lead. I also believe that with this privilege comes our duty. We have a duty to give back to our people and to represent them in this part of the world in the best possible manner. We have a duty to perform what we are capable of here and to remind ourselves daily of the oppression we were lucky enough to have escaped. We must fulfill these duties and contribute to promoting the cause of freedom for our people.

I believe we can each contribute but I also believe we must do this in our own ways. Not all of us are made to be politicians or to speak of politics, not all are made to write about our cause, just as not all people are made to be musicians. We all have our positions in this life. And as we, the youth, grow as individuals, we must find our positions and our passions in this life. Every individual must discover his or her passion and talents and each person in pursuit of these passions will ultimately find success in what they have most interest in and what they do best. And with that, as Kurds, we must also find our position within the Kurdish cause, and pursue it. We must search deep within ourselves and find what we are interested in and best capable of, and find how we can contribute to the cause of our people. And no contribution is too small. For all of our efforts collectively will be what makes the difference and what brings forth the new future revolutions, just like the many that preceded our generation.

It is very important that we continue to educate ourselves daily in order to become smarter individuals to contribute collectively. Our will to be more educated and to cultivate and nourish our talents is what will ultimately bring us success and lead to our freedom.

We have heard many great ideas today and several interesting discussions were held. Let this be another beginning in transforming those ideas heard and discussed today into real actions. And let's leave today thinking how we can contribute our talents and interests for the betterment of ourselves and for the betterment of our people. Let's continue to educate ourselves, and make our ultimate goal to grow individually in order to succeed collectively.

I thank you all again for attending this event. And I hope that our goals can and will be achieved.

Serkeftin,

Goran Sadjadi Z.
2005 – 2007 President, KAYO
gsadjadi@kurdyouth.org

Kurdish American Youth Org.
www.kurdyouth.org