St. Cloud Area Somali Women’s Association (SASWA) took the panelist positions in Atwood’s Theater Wednesday.
Along with the presentation, they provided some cultural information.
Halima Hussein, Fartun Hussein, Fartun Nut, Bisharo Iman and Hayad Hassan formed the panel. Hassan acted as Halima Hussein’s translator.
“I think a number of people have probably not been in a presentation where there is an interpreter for the Somali language. It is a beautiful language,†said Jane Olsen, director of the Women’s Center.
Somalia, the East African nation, gained independence in 1960.
The country experienced civil war after President Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991.
As a result, many natives fled to neighboring countries and other parts of the world.
The afternoon started with each member’s introduction.
The women were all Somali-born.
During the war, they dislocated to refugee camps in Uganda and/ or Kenya.
Eventually, they arrived in the United States.
Somali refugees relocated into many states, but a large number of refugees then moved to Minnesota.
Today, Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the U.S. with more than 60,000 Somalis living in the state.
Panelists then addressed their first question on challenges they faced in refugee camps.
Fartun Hussein said that someone can never understand the feeling of being in a camp until they have experienced it.
She said there was no choice of meals and people ate what they were given.
She said camps lacked education systems and health care.
Refugees were only there for survival, she said.
Challenges did not end at refugee camps. All the women said they had other obstacles in the U.S.
The panel said language was the main barrier for all of them.
Fartun Hussein and Iman attended St. Cloud Technical High School.
For Fartun Hussein, learning English was hard, especially when she had to cope with other classes in school.
Halima Hussein emphasized how hard it was for the older generation, like herself.
She said the prospect of migrating to the U.S. was exciting. Upon arrival, things were different. Without speaking English, she could not get hired.
She said she is now learning English.
Fartun Hussein said SASWA provides resources, advocacy and social support.
“One of our major goals is to help Somali women reach their independence,†she said. “We help them with literacy programs and obtaining driver’s license[s].â€
Fartun Nur said raising kids in the U.S. was and is a challenge for her.
She told the crowd that her son had some hard times in school. Contrary to the American culture, she said, giving eye contact to an older person was a sign of disrespect in Somali culture.
On the topic of finding and forming networks, Fartun Hussein said the large community in Minnesota attracted Somalis from other states.
She said a wide variety of Somali businesses are present not only in Minneapolis, but also in St. Cloud.
The women said they have experienced joys in St. Cloud as well.
Fartun Nur said she is grateful for health care and education, especially for her children.
She said that it is important to raise her kids in a warfree environment.
There are three non-profit organizations in St. Cloud working with the Somali community.
Fartun Hussein said that along with SASWA, there is the St. Cloud Area Somali Salvation Organization and the Elders Council.
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Source: St Cloud State University
Who wouldn’t love coming here and getting everything for free? These Somalians expect us and our culture to bend over backwards for them. Which is funny to me since they came from nothing and now expect everything. I believe that the reason there are so many Somalians living in Minnesota is because we have the most giving and easy system to get free things. I really don’t care how their culture does things. Example making eye contact in school to an adult. Get used to how we do things here. We aren’t changing for anyone else, so what makes you think we should change for Somalians? I think it would be fine if they came here, got jobs and learned how to drive!
I don’t know what this idiot doing on www.Bartamaha.com, but I think the problem is you watch too much TV your fantasies and conspiracies belong in a novel.
to jessg. your argument is based on stereotyping and your fear of diversity. its nothing new. pretty much every European ethnic group experienced it from another when they first came to Minnesota. they were mistrusted, saw as outsiders but that didn’t stop them from claiming their peace of pie. Somalis are no different you can hate on us but you cant stop us from achieving success. businesses all over Minneapolis owned by Somalis can attest to that. Somali students out achieving many other groups/races including whites by the way can attest to that. these are facts unlike your baseless claims. so whether you like it or not here we come.
I think Jess makes a valid point, it’s common knowledge that Somalis don’t assimilate as well as other groups, and that they tend to strike out wherever they are and pose challenges to the host society by congregating in a given corner (usually public housing with poor schools and unsuitable environment to raise kids) and appear as undesirables (just take a look at how most of the females dress and show me any other group that dresses like that anywhere!).
There is nothing wrong with constructive criticism and we should welcome it. There needs to be an honest debate regarding the issues faced by the Somali community of the US which comprises of new arrivals, some of which can barely read or write with extreme religious views that hinder their aspirations and abilities to assimilate and integrate into society. It’s better to address these issues that people have long shied away from or have been shunned as shame than to attack whomever that propagates a frank debate with name calling and the usual references to media, stereotypes and so forth. It only indicates unwillingness and inability to debate.
Geel iyo caano walaaleyaal!