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Somali-Canadian Cultural Society of Edmonton project/communication coordinator Mohamed Abdi poses for a photo at the society's office, 13160 - 127 St. (David Bloom/Sun Media) | |
By ALYSSA NOEL, SUN MEDIA
Monday, January 12, 2009
Four days a week in a classroom on the city’s north end, the Somali-Canadian Cultural Society uses school work to point its youth towards a brighter future, away from the bloodshed that has taken four of its young men in recent months.
The Homework Club, started seven years ago, attracts between 30 and 40 Somali students each session. Some were born in Canada, but their parents’ aren’t fluent enough in English to help them with their work. Others are new immigrants to the country and are still trying to grasp the basics of the language.
Although the community has been in the media in recent months because of a rash of slayings, Mohamed Abdi, a spokesmen for the society, wants Edmontonians to see some of the positive activities coming out of their community as well.
“Somalians in Edmonton are hardworking, good citizens and they’re working together to make (the city) a better place,” Abdi said yesterday.
Along with recent meetings with city police to discuss ways to prevent future deaths, the Homework Club is a way to keep kids in school and a positive path.
“We want to prevent those things from happening if we can,” Abdi said. “But we want the main stream society to know that the Somali community is a peaceful community.”
Especially for children who are new to the country, the Homework Club can be a way to catch kids before they fall through the cracks. If they come to Edmonton not knowing the language and they are placed in a grade based on their age rather than their knowledge, they can sometimes grow frustrated at their inability to keep up with their peers. That can lead to them dropping out of school and into a downward spiral.
“Lots of their dreams are shattered and they fall through the cracks,” Abdi said.
The extra help from volunteer tutors - from nurses to university students - can make all the difference, he added.
“We hear from parents who say their kids are having good results in their tests,” he said. “Parents are very appreciative of our services.”
Since September, five young Somali men have been shot in separate incidents in the city. Only one has survived.
After the deaths, several members of the community who were frustrated by what they felt was indifference from city police to catch the killers banded together and asked the police Chief Mike Boyd for a meeting.
After the first meeting, representatives from the community said they feel confident that Boyd and his officers will keep his promise to work with Somali youth to prevent crimes.
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Souce: Sun Media, Jan 12, 2009