Hamdi Mohamed, a Youth Leader from the Confederation of Somali Communities in Minnesota recites one of her poems during the Project Gargaar trainings in Minneapolis.
Project Gargaar Training/Workshops in San Diego and Minneapolis
SFCN’s Project Gargaar capacity building and training workshop are designed to establish a cadre of young Somali leaders within their specific communities. These young leaders will guide and support Somali refugee youth, aged between 12-19, in making important life choices which include the completion of their education and accessing post-secondary education, becoming civically engaged in their communities, choosing appropriate career paths, avoiding criminal behavior and becoming role models for the younger generation. According to the participants, the crime rate amongst Somali boys in the United States is very high because of the many complex issues they experience as young African men, as refugees, and as members of a low-income, low literate society with different cultural experiences and challenges. One of the biggest concerns for refugee youth is the pull between the two competing cultures they live in and the need to make informed, appropriate choices based on the progressive values of being both Somali and American.
SFCN’s Project Gargaar also addresses the significant strains that develop between refugee children and parents and provides community forums so both groups can engage in an open and honest dialogue, along with other community stakeholders. The objective of the meetings is to create an ongoing platform for discussing integration challenges, bridging communication gaps between families and strengthening the awareness and responsiveness of community-based organizations. Outcomes from these capacity building trainings and forums are intended to provide current refugee youth and subsequent generations of young Somalis with the appropriate support structures, hope and inspiration and guidance they need to succeed in their new environment.
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH
While the “I Have A Dream” speech has been quoted by many and has inspired even more, let us not forget that a not so long ago, thousands of ships landed in Africa, kidnapping the most precious African resource from their homes, families and countries. Countless victims were killed en route and millions were sold at slave auctions across the Americas. These newcomers became the engines that ran the economies of the new territories of the western hemisphere, foreign places that often lacked history, a unifying culture, language and an official name. Slave owners raped women and children; whipped and tortured men and denigrated the very existence of these peoples into submission. They changed their names, identities, religion and reoriented their way of life.
Every time I think about the history of Africans in America, I cannot help but get emotional, even angry. I often think of Malcolm X when he said: “I’m not going to sit at your table and watch you eat, with nothing on my plate, and call myself a diner. Sitting at the table doesn’t make you a diner, unless you eat some of what’s on that plate. Being here in America doesn’t make you an American…. No I’m not an American, I’m one of the 22 million black people who are the victims of Americanism. One of the 22 million black people who are the victims of democracy, nothing but disguised hypocrisy…. I’m speaking as a victim of this American system. And I see America through the eyes of a victim. I don’t see any American dream; I see an American nightmare.” Or when he added, “We’re not Americans, we’re Africans who happen to be in America. We were kidnapped and brought here against our will from Africa. We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock – that rock landed on us!”
In 1955 December 1, Rosa Parks refused to stand and leave her seat for a white man. For decades, black people were forced by the law to buy a ticket by the driver first then get of the bus and enter the bus again from the back door and leave their seats for whites. The injustice and inequality against blacks in America were consistent in all regions ruled by whites, even in Africa. One of the best known political activists of the 20th century was Nelson Mandela, a man imprisoned for 27 years because of his commitment to black equality in his native country. A quote from Nelson Mandela reads “In my country we go to prison first then become president”. Rosa Park did not became president like Nelson but Mandela mentioned that Parks “sustained me while I was in prison all those years”.
History, as we know it, has documented that imprisonment and torture of countless black people, not because they committed a crime, but because they were black and dared to dream of being treated equally to their peers under the law. The Declaration of Independence clearly notes that “…all men are created equally…” yet it took nearly 200 years before blacks in America could be considered equal by law. It has taken countless and nameless committed activists to realize what many could only dream of. But it has not been easy and it certainly was not cheap. The freedoms blacks and many others of color enjoy in the US was paid for with blood and it is up to every person, young and old, newcomer and native, to preserve it, protect it and expand it for all. And that includes Somali Americans.
Somali youth in America should be particularly sensitive to the expansive rights we all enjoy. Considering the crisis in the homeland, it is imperative for young people to understand the significance of the civil rights we enjoy and to ensure that we pay tribute to those who struggled and died for our current freedoms. Those brave leaders who made it possible for refugees and immigrants to come to this country and to be treated with decency and respect. New Americans need to study and learn their history – their American history – and the role blacks, people of color and concerned citizens had in securing these rights and freedoms. New Americans can pay back for their predecessors’ generosity by ensuring that young people complete their education, strive to be the best in all, become involved in the development of their neighborhoods, engage in the civil affairs of their community organizations and local schools. By helping a student with their homework, or coaching a sports team; by volunteering in the local PTA or summer camp. There are countless ways Somali youth and parents can make an impact in their new communities in an effort to keep the activist spirit alive and to pass the torch to the next generation of young leaders.
The long road to equality is not complete. Though many of us witnessed the thrill of a lifetime with the election of Barack Obama as the United States’ 44th president, the fact remains that blacks are predominantly under-represented in all facets of American public life. There is a lot more work to do and February is a reminder that while we have overcome a horrific past, there is much more work to be done until we, as Americans, are truly equal before and under the law.
Happy Black History Month!
By Fatima Hirsi
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SFCN’s Book of the Month
The Try by bestselling author James P. Owen is an inspirational book about real-life stories.
The author captured the most ordinary people who have done the most extraordinary things in their life. What makes these people so inspiring is that they are ordinary people like you and me. People that struggle every day, people that are not born with fame and a silver spoon. People that have grown up in small communities or remote countries, and oftentimes under challenging circumstances such as a terrible childhood experience. People that have been through the worst in life but still keep a smile on their face. People with great dreams and will and determination that allow them to become good leaders. People that did not give up so easily. People that show us, the readers, that life is beautiful, funny, unfair, painful and sometimes ugly but that success is only possible if you keep your head up and your eyes on your goal. These people set the standard that nothing is worth having if you have not worked hard for it. In other words, your achievements depend not on how smart or talented you may be, but rather the quality of your efforts and how much you try.
One of the people in the book is Hamse Warfa, a young Somali guy that turned hardship into leadership. Hamse’s success story is not a beautiful fairytale and according to the author, Hamse’s story is like an episode from the movie Black Hawk Down.
Life can sometimes be like a roller coaster and every time you need inspiration, motivation and guidance or just want to be reminded of how it is for others, why not read The Try? Now available at Amazon.
Comparative Analysis of Somali Refugees in the U.S. and Sweden
I am an international student from Sweden currently interning with the Somali Family Care Network (SFCN) in the Washington, DC area. First of all, I have to say that I’m surprised and amazed at number of self-help Somali organizations that are working for and with fellow Somalis to assist them in integrating into their new communities and to learn about the culture and traditions of the United States.
I am truly grateful for the internship opportunity with SFCN. On my first week, I was invited to participate in a three day training workshop they held for partner organizations in Washington. This opportunity gave me a better insight into their work, particularly Project Gargaar, and how they lead and work with other Somali community organizations across the country. I met participants from Somali organization such as the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota (CSCM) based in Minneapolis; the Somali Family Services of San Diego and Somali Youth and Family Club in Seattle. I met and networked with Abdirazak Farah, a policy advisor at the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and Ron Munia, Director of Community Resettlement at the Office of Refugee Resettlement. All the participants gave a highly researched presentation about their communities and organizations which allowed for an interesting analysis and discussions among the participants. This was a great time to exchange ideas, opinions and learn from each other. The eagerness and motivation to do more and learn more was high. This experience increased my aspirations and goals and I know that this knowledge will be very helpful when I return to Sweden.
The training workshop focused on Project Gargaar, a youth leadership and empowerment project. The objective of this project is to foster a cadre of young Somali leaders who will guide and support Somali refugee youth in making important life choices such as completing their general education, contributing to their communities, avoiding criminal behavior and become role models for the younger generation. According to the participants, the crime rate amongst Somali boys in the United States is very high because of the many complex issues they experience as young African men, as refugees, and as members of a low-income, low literate society with different cultural experiences and challenges. One of the biggest issues for refugees is the choices they make when they are faced with retaining their family’s culture or integrating into the new one.
SFCN’s Project Gargaar also addresses the significant strain that develops between children and parents and provides community forums to engage in open discussions and build better communication link. In the end, no matter what problems or concerns these young people face, they are our future. They deserve a second chance and all the support and help there is to give. Somali Family Care Network, with help of other community organizations in different parts of the country, provide hope, inspiration and guidance in an effort to ensure the next generation of Somali youth are equipped with the right tools and skills to overcome their various challenges and succeed in this country.
What amazes me the most and makes me proud of my internship is that the work we do is so important and giving. I have never experienced anything similar in Sweden. The resettlement policies in Sweden are so different, and so difficult that it makes it hard to integrate into the culture and society. America is land of all colors and if you work hard enough it is possible that you will have the opportunity to have a comfortable life. The refugees and immigrants in Sweden face a hard time being accepted in their host community and learning the official language. Most refugees would greatly benefit from meeting successful compatriots who can proudly say: “Walaal, I was in the same situation as you two years ago. Today I have a job, I know the language and I feel that this is my home now, and it can be yours too.” From my brief observation of Somali-Americans, I can say that USA is the land of opportunity and if refugees work hard, they will most likely succeed.
In contrast, what Sweden lacks is community cohesion, cross-cultural interest and available opportunities to enable effective integration. Economic inequalities and class differences between the communities creates barriers that prevent newcomers from establishing a strong foundation in the country. The detached Swedish culture also helps to breed a sense of isolationism and further estranges refugees from getting to know their neighbors and integrating into the community. And while these are legitimate barriers, it is perhaps the Swedish norm to be distant and not take interest in others’ affairs. The government expects that the new arrivals to quickly integrate into a modern society that utilizes a different language, operates with advanced technology and observes unique rules and regulation. This is very difficult for a refugee, who just escaped from war and terror, and who may not have had access to the most basic necessities of life. It is these differences in the resettlement process that makes Sweden and many Scandinavian countries a challenge for effective integration.
As a Swedish citizen, I am grateful for the many opportunities I have had to succeed in my home country. But I am even more impressed and proud of the work SFCN and other community-based organizations do for refugees and immigrants in helping them settle and succeed in their new communities. And I will highly recommend their work and bring this knowledge and experience to Sweden where it will hopefully make a change. I hope this has given readers a brighter insight and inspired them to make your dreams come true.
Fatima Fathiya Hirsi
Project Gargaar Workshop Training – January 9-11, 2012
A majority of Somali youth are struggling with a myriad challenges, including intergenerational conflict, truancy, dropout and delinquency. SFCN and partner organization staff have the will to build a stronger relationships between at-risk youth and their families and communities, including service providers such as community-based organizations, educators, law enforcement personnel, religious leaders and other interested individuals, to meet the challenges facing at-risk Somali youth.
This holistic approach is intended to provide a network of caring and responsive service providers that will enable young people to rise to the challenges that they face and resist the temptation to fail and under perform in their daily activities, but rather to take pride in accomplishment, success and community activism. The three-day Project Gargaar workshop and training held by SFCN was designed to introduce the goals and objectives of the project to selected community participants and experts. The youth leaders are intended to serve as potential role models and “big brother/big sister” to the participants in an effort to encourage them to pursue alternative life choices.
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Success Stories from Seattle, WA
Project Gargaar participants describe how the project activities have made an impact in their lives.
Book of the Month
The American Muslim Teenager’s Handbook by Dilara, Imran and Yasmine Hafiz is a unique book. It shows how any religious ideas can fit into American culture and in generally gives good advice on how to be a successful teenager. The book is very witty yet informative. It is also a good look at Islam for anyone who may not be familiar with the religion. The book’s focus is on how to fit in to mainstream culture without comprising who you are. It is a good read no matter what religion, race, or age you are.
2011 Youth Conference
The 3rd Annual Somali Diaspora Youth (SDY) Conference is scheduled to take place in Boston, MA on Saturday July 16 & Sunday July 17th. The theme of the conference is “Reaching Out to Reduce Youth Risk Factors”. If you want to speak, train or simply learn from other youth, those that work with youth or from inspirational/motivational speakers then please follow the links below and be part of this amazing effort.
Where to send your topic/summary of your discussion:
Registration:
To sponsor and/or donate:
The annual conference will be held on July 16-17, 2011 at ISBCC, on 100 Malcolm X Blvd in Boston, MA.
Building Somalia- Streets of Amerika
Somalia stars in Streets Of Amerika, showing photo’s of her family and Somali nomads. The song reflects the struggle many Somali’s feel when adjusting to life in America
