DARISWANAAG (good neighbourhood) Initiative

Our current diasporic programs include an ongoing Dariswanaag initiative (good neighbourhood initiative) that is a series of community-based programmes for the Somali-British community in Southall, London. Our initiative started as informal community gatherings in February 4, 2017 in Golf Links, Southall where several constructive community dialogue events and consultations took place. These dialogical events and discussions entailed the idea to organise purposeful events and forums addressing the needs of the diverse groups within the Somali-British community in Golf-Links, Southall. Needs identified include youth identity crises, youth motivational events, educational support for both young and old generations, intergenerational dialogue, celebration for young people’s educational achievements, homework support, parenting programs, engaging with Somali men who feel disenfranchised and so on. Based on feedbacks and suggestions from intensive consultations with different community groups, ILAYSNABAD: Dialogue & Development Initiative (IDDI) have delivered several programmes including the following Dariswanaag Initiative events starting with the latest one:

1. Intergenerational Dialogue between Somali mothers and daughters in Southall and its neighbouring suburbs (03/11/2018)

2. Somali Youth Graduation Ceremony in Golf-Links & Southall (21/09/2018)

3. Young Somali Men & Social-Wellbeing in Golf-Links (09/06/2018)

4. Somali Sister Circle & Social-Wellbeing in Golf-Links (28/05/2018)

5. Second Forum for Somali Fathers in Golf-Links (13 May 2018)

6. Understanding Young Somali-British People (Forum for Somali fathers in Golf-Links- 22nd April 2018)

7. Understanding Young Somali-British People (Forum for Somali mothers in Golf-Links - 5th April 2018)

8. Engagement with Key Somali Men in Golf Links (18/03/2018)

9. Forum on Somali-British Youth Resilience in Golf Links Saturday (24/03/2018)

10. Homework Club-Pilot Project (January 6th-24th February 2018)

11. Inspire Somali-British Youth in Golf Links (21/01/ 2018)

12. Golf Links Graduation Ceremony (20/09/2017)

Below are the details of the above listed activities

During youth consultations, several girls suggested the importance to organise mothers-daughters dialogue in order find out solutions for huge misunderstanding between mothers and girls. 60 young women and mothers participated in this event. Main aims of this dialogue included but not limited to:

• strengthen the Somali mothers and girls living in Golf-Links and Southall;

• encourage interaction, participation, constructive approach and dialogue between mothers and girls;

• cultivate culture of cohesiveness, harmony, tolerance, acceptance and respect of diverse views;

• nurture sense of belonging and solidary within the community particularly mothers and young girls;

• highlight the underlying issues of mothers-daughters misunderstanding and the best ways to address from participants’ perspectives.

IDDI did organise well-attended and very successful graduation ceremony at Chaudhry's TKC Restaurant in Southall. Around 50 graduates from universities, A levels, and GCSE’ attended. Aims of the ceremony included to:

• acknowledge and celebrate for graduates’ educational achievements;

• encourage them to pursue higher education;

• and show them that the Somali community in Golf-Links supports their educational attainments.

Two successful young people (young woman and young man) in their education and career pathways were invited to inspire these fresh graduates. After speeches there was an interactive discussion and a networking opportunity in which young participants had a chance to engage with each other and share their own experiences, stories and future aspirations.

This was an exclusive night event for young men of Somali origin Golf-Links and Southall. Main purposes were to provide a platform for youths to know each other; social; meet with senior and young professionals who can make positive role models; share their own experiences and stories; exchange information and discuss about youth challenges such as knife crimes, and drug involvement and the best ways to address these challenges. This event was supervised and facilitated by Dr Yusuf Omar who is well-informed regarding youth issues. 48 young men benefited from this event.

This was an exclusive night event for young women of Somali origin Golf-Links in Southall. Main objectives included to provide a platform for young women of Somali origin to come together, socialise, and know each other; meet with senior and young professional women who can make positive role models and share their own experiences and stories of success; exchange knowledge, information and discuss about challenges facing young women in their local areas and in London in general and the best ways to find proper solutions led by the community for these challenges. This event was supervised and facilitated by Dr Khadijo Osman who is well-informed regarding challenges confronting young Somali women in London and UK. Around 40 young women benefited from this event.

5. Second Forum for Somali Fathers in Golf-Links (13 May 2018)

This forum was an outcome of the previous awareness forum for Somali men in Golf Links as those who attended the first forum, also participated in the second one. A youth expert named Ibrahim Osman was invited to facilitate the discussion. The forum was very informative and educational. Father participants con.

6. Understanding Young Somali-British People (Forum for Somali fathers in Golf-Links- 22nd April 2018)

This was the second consultation with male parents in Golf Links held on Sunday 22nd April 2018at Golf Links Community Centre (rear of Alnmouth Court) Fleming Road, Southall, UB1 2PE.

Around 13 men participated. The main objective of this forum was to provide an opportunity for these Somali male parents in Golf Links know each other; exchange their experiences and ideas related to youth engagement. Participants were divided into three small groups and each group was given a specific question to discuss among them and then share their findings with the rest. These questions were:

• What are Somali men’s needs which will enable them to actively engage with youth particularly young men and also their families in general?

• How do Somali men in Golf Links contribute positively to the Somali community in Golf Links?

• What are the best ways to work together for the wellbeing of the Somali community in the Golf Links in general?

At the conclusion, participants suggested to have a forum in which community experts in youth affairs are invited to share their experiences with men.

7. Understanding Young Somali-British People (Forum for Somali mothers in Golf-Links - 5th April 2018)

Location: Golf Links Community Centre (rear of Alnmouth Court) Fleming Road, Southall, UB1 2PE.

Background

When consulted with Somali youth in Golf Links, they talked about a huge intergenerational misunderstanding mainly caused by Somali’s parents’ lack of skills and understanding of how to deal youth in UK context. Therefore, youth recommended the importance to help Somali parents understand on how to engage and make good relationships with youth and understand educational, social, and emotional needs of youth and children in UK. From that backdrop, we organised the forum in which two Somali women experts were invited. Zamzam who is school teacher with enormous understanding of education system in UK and in Somalia, and challenges facing Somali parents when dealing their children and youth at UK educational institutions. The second expert was Safiya who is a family psychologist with good experiences related to intergenerational conflicts, and family breakdowns. Zamzam’s presentation and discussion focused on the importance of Somali parents’ understanding on educational needs of young people and children in UK context. She talked that while the primary school is the most important state, Somali parents do not understand that well. She also emphasised on the importance of home and community based education such as establishing learning culture at home, reading at home through which every member at home should be part of it; understanding consistence and routine learning of children, understanding your child’s school curriculum, establishing good relationship with teacher and school. She also explained the negative perception and stereotypes attached with black students and therefore, if Somali students exhibit bad behaviour that will confirm the negative stereotypes. The psychologist Safiya said that youth are ahead in understanding British culture than their parents. His advice to the parents included

• The importance for Somali parents to know their children’s personality

• The importance to lay down discipline at home in which everyone is required to adhere;

• The importance to encourage youth and celebrate their achievements;

• The importance of listening to young people’s point of view;

• The importance of establishing good relationship with youth otherwise they will not share their stories, experiences and friends with you;

• The importance to consult with young people and consider their view when making decisions

• The importance to know youth friends and tell them your friends too;

• The importance of telling positive stories about Somalia;

• Parents should be open-minded and welcome their children’s uniqueness.

8. Engagement with Key Somali Men in Golf Links (18/03/2018)

Most Somali-British families in Golf Links are run by single mothers. Therefore, boys and young men in these families are in need for father figures and positive male role models. During Dariswanaag meetings, many Somali mothers suggested the idea to consult with Somali men in Golf Links and urge them to get involved in the community activities and engage more with Somali boys and young men in this area in order to provide male role models. From that backdrop, ILAYSNABAD did organised consultative meeting with 8 Somali men in Golf Links and have their views on the best ways they can relate and interact with Somali boys and young men in this area. Therefore, ILAYSNABAD organised an informal discussion over dinner. These men welcomed warmly the initiative and promised to contribute to any event empowering young Somali men in this area. They also suggested the importance to involve all Somali men in Golf Links into youth activities particularly with boys and young men.

In partnership with Somali Advice & Development Centre(Sadc) ILAYSNABAD has organised Youth Resilience workshops aimed to raise the awareness of the major risk factors encountering Somali youth in Golf Links which deflect them from their pathways to success and lead them to school dropouts, criminal involvements and extremism. These workshops presented by SADC experts inspired youth to get involved in civic engagements and community activities. The workshops have empowered young participants and offered them interactive discussions necessary for analyzing the issues that affect their lives and Somali-British community circumstances in general. These workshops took places at Golf Links Community Centre (rear of Alnmouth Court) Fleming Road, Southall, UB1 2PE and also at Young Adult Centre Parkview Road, Southall, UB1 3 HJ.

10. Homework Club-Pilot Project (January 6th-24th February 2018)

Our Homework Club was a suggestion from parents living in Golf Links area. It was eight weeks educational supportpilot that started 6 January 2018and ended 24th February 2018. Five university students of Somali origin offered one to one help for Somali children studying primary and secondary schools in Golf Links. This educational pilot support was focused on subjects students studied at schools and needed an extra support such as Maths, Science, and English. Our student teachers have developed sense of contribution and giving back to their community. Similarly, they have become positive role models for the young ones who may have never seen any Somali teacher in their lives. Because the pilot was successful, we are now thinking about the possibility of establishing a permanent Homework Club.

This inspirational event was held at Nagma Restaurant in Southall. Around 50 young men and women from universities across London, A levels, and GCSEs participated. Two young motivational speakers (woman and man) were invited. Abdi Guiled, one of the two speakers talked about his inspirational personal life journey and his success explaining difficulties he encountered in the past, and how he managed to overcome all these challenges and became a successful consultant at a firm based in London. He also talked about his own educational enterprise. Shukri Adan, who is another motivational speaker captured psyches and souls of young participants. As a young mother, she talked how she managed to successfully complete her studies, became a teacher, and a motivational speaker. After these motivational speeches, there were very interactive discusses on small groups where each group was tasked to discussion a specific question and share their views with the rest. These questions included: What are the main needs of Somali youth in Golf Links? What are the main challenges facing Somali-British youth in Golf Links? How do you describe youth-parents relationships? How to improve youth-parent relationships? How could you imagine the situation of Somali youth in Golf Links in 5 years to come? What are the best ways to motivate our youth in the Golf Links?

IDDI organised very successful graduation event held at Gifto’s Lahore Restaurant in Southall. Around 22 graduates from universities, A levels, and GCSE’ benefited from this event. There was also an interactive discussion as the event was a wonderful networking opportunityin which young participants had a chance to know each other and share their experiences, stories and common aspirations.

Managing Team

IDDI Dariswanaag Initiative activities are managed by 3 people (IDDI executive), 8 subcommittee members (young women girls and 3 young men) and group of elders and parents (5 mothers and 5 fathers). All managing team residents in Golf-Links, Southall.

Contacts

ILAYSNABAD (Light of Peace): Dialogue & Development Initiative (IDDI).

Dr Yusuf Omar: 07757009939 or Dr Khadijo Osman: 07717177133

E: info@ilaysnabad.org

Website: www.ilaysnabad.org