Southern Minn
Wednesday September 16, 2015
By Kim Hyatt
Eighth grader Hassan Abdi works with “grandma” Sue Wacek at the Somali American Cultural Society of Owatonna. The organization in its fifth year of operation serves as a place for Somali students to get help with homework. (Kim Hyatt/People’s Press)
OWATONNA—Bells tied on the door handle at the Somali American Cultural Society of Owatonna were ringing with each student and volunteer who entered Monday afternoon for the first tutoring session of the school year.The learning center, located on South Front Street, has been serving as an extension of the classroom for Somali students the past four years. Since opening in 2011, all grade levels receive help with homework from a handful of dedicated volunteers four days a week.And those volunteers aren’t addressed by Mr. or Mrs., but a more casual, caring title.
“Grandma works better,” said Sue Wacek. “It conveys some authority, and a grandmother is a position of respect and they are caring people. They care about children.”
Wacek, 69, has been volunteering at Somali American Cultural Society of Owatonna, also known as SACSO, since its inception, primarily helping students with math. With 43 years of teaching experience, Wacek said she can spend her time working on basic math with elementary students or pre-calculus with those in high school.
Wacek even serves as a resource for SACSO founder Ibrahim Hussein.
“Anytime I’m stuck, I know where I’m going to go,” Hussein said of Wacek.
As Hussein was welcoming back students, he was thinking about his own homework waiting for him. Currently, he is taking classes three days a week to earn a teaching degree.
SACSO is more than a place for homework help, though. The organization aids adults in driver’s training, computer literacy and language support.
But now that school is in session, the focus is on more than 20 students who seek additional education support.
“It helps a lot,” said tenth-grader Abdirisak Moussa of SACSO. Moussa was there on Monday with his three younger brothers working on geometry and said the after-school program helps him with “understanding the concept.”
As Moussa returned to SACSO for his third year, other students were there for the first time, like eighth-grader Hassan Abdi, who moved to Owatonna from Somalia in March.
The after-school program “keeps our brains working, too” said three-year volunteer, Judy Weinke. The former social worker helps in all subjects, but leaves the math for Wacek.
Both Wacek and Weinke were recruited by Hussein to volunteer and there are several others who give their time and talents to students at SACSO. Hussein said there are some high school students looking to volunteer as well, and the organization is always looking for more volunteers.
“Coming here from a different country is a difficult enough time and education is crucial to their future success,” Wacek said. “I’m looking at it on the long-range that we’re working to help them assimilate in the country through their education.”
Source: Southern Minn