About UTNA

Brief History of Union of Tigreans in North America /UTNA/

Inspired by the widespread changes the rest of the world was going through, and due to dissatisfaction with the then Ethiopian Students Union of North America, some young Tigreans residents of North America began discussing about the possibility of forming a union of Tigreans.

Following a series of discussions, Union of Tigeans in North America /UTNA/ was established in the summer of 1974, in Washington DC. Four from Detroit, 2 from New York and 11 from Washington DC, a total of 17 young Tigreans attended the UTNA founding conference.

The following three main agendas were discussed during the UTNA founding conference. 1. The need to form the union ; 2. Goals; 3. Membership.

The need to form the union was necessitated by the ongoing systematic oppression of Tigreans in the mother land. The purpose of the union would be to create awareness about the repression of Tigreans and to provide support in their struggle for freedom & self-determination. Membership was open to all Tigreans who supported the purpose of the union.

Shortly after TPLF was formed in February 1975, the two organizations began communicating. Realizing they shared similar goals, the two organizations agreed to work together. Furthermore, UTNA fully accepted TPLF’s programs and became a member of TPLF from 1986 to 1995.

All along, UTNA never had an ambition to seek political power.
Rather, UTNA learned from Diaspora based organizations of other countries that the best way to be effective was to provide support to governments or political organizations that share similar goals and values. Hence UTNA continued to support TPLF and the people of Tigray, including but not limited to paying precious lives and continued so till the demise of the Derg.

Currently UTNA is a non-partisan and non-profit civic organization which works towards the enhancement of peace, development, and democracy in Ethiopia.

Some highlights of UTNA’s contributions

Donated 40 military radio walkie-talkies to be used in the armed struggle;
Donated over $150, 000.00 in money, and books for the fight against illiteracy in Tigray during the armed struggle;
Contributed over $50,000.00 to support water and soil conservation program in Tigray during the armed struggle;
Raised funds to help establish Radio Dmtsi-Weyane Tigray when the radio station became operational within Tigray for the first time, after leaving Eritrea during the armed struggle;
Raised funds to replace electric generators of Adi-Grat and Mekelle towns as Derg put them out of service when it abandoned Tigray for good!
Mobilized Tegaru residents of North America to raise over $450, 000.00 to support the families of TPLF martyrs;
Built a clinic for mothers and children in Adi-Haqi, Mekelle at a cost of 1.8 million birr and dedicated it to martyred veteran tegadalit, Kasech Asfaw;
Sent to Tigray over $500,000.00 worth of medicine and hospital equipment from NGO’s;
UTNA supported the idea and its members played an active role during the formation of TDA;
Purchased and still owns a ground plus one building, what is commonly known as Axum Restaurant in the city of Washington DC;
Donated two buses to Tigray Disable Veterans Association (TDVA) to solve their transportation challenges in Tigray;
Within the last decade, UTNA sponsored Tigray Disable Veterans Association (TDVA) and conducted successful fundraises and raised over $200, 000.00;
With the consultation of TDA, UTNA adopted Dedebit elementary school in its endeavor to become a model school and continues to support it.
UTNA facilitates political forums for Diaspora Tigrayans