fiogf49gjkf0d
By CLARA HO, Sun Media
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Educational initiatives are helping local Somali youth stay focused on school and keeping them away from a life of crime and violence, according to a new organization that supports Somali families.
“We are seeing improvements. The Somali community is working hard to mobilize youth, holding different meetings and gatherings, and keeping youth away from gangs,” said Mohamednur Madowe, executive director of the Brotherhood Community Support Service Association. “And I hope it can continue this way.”
The association, formed and run by members of the local Somali community, was established last January and offers translation and information services for families as well as education workshops and programs encouraging kids to pursue post-secondary educations.
In the short time since its inception, along with a variety of other initiatives through other local Somali organizations, Madowe said he’s seen a drop in crime and violence within the local community.
It’s easy for youth to fall into a that kind of lifestyle, Madowe said, especially when moving to a new city without parents or family members to watch and support them.
“Some would try to get jobs to send money back home. But with a language barrier, they couldn’t find work,” he said, adding some would eventually turn to crime.
Last fall, four men in their early 20s within the Somali community were gunned down in Edmonton, the most recent being the shooting death of 20-year-old Mohamed Farah Khalif in April.
Some community members expressed frustration with what they felt was indifference from city police, which led to a series of meetings with officers, including Chief Mike Boyd, and later with local politicians Alberta NDP leader Brian Mason and Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel.
Soon after, a soccer game between Somali youth and police officers was held to solidify the relationship between the two groups and to develop a mutual understanding.
Tips from the Somali community also helped police lay charges in the homicide of Khalif, with Deputy Chief David Korol praising Somali community leaders for encouraging their members to work with police “to help stop the violence.”
Now Madowe said the various Somali groups in Edmonton are looking at joining up to make one umbrella group, to apply for government funding so that they can continue offering these programs and services to what he calls a growing Somali community within the province.
[email protected]