Wake up, world!
(UPDATED 9/13) Dear wonderful readers, and one or two not so wonderful but I still love because you read my column, and convince my editor that I should get paid for doing this.
A couple months ago, I wrote about what people can do to help the situation in Somalia and East Africa. Basically, I said the best way to get money to Somalia is to talk to your Somali neighbors, co-workers and friends and give them money that is guaranteed to get to people that really need it. I'm here to tell you that plan did not work. How do I know? Because with all the non-Somalis I know, so far I've raised less than $400.
In the past four months I've sent over $5,000. I depleted my saving account. I signed over paycheck after paycheck to the money transfer agencies. And I know I'm not alone. There isn't a Somali out here who doesn't still have relatives, friends, and old neighbors still stuck in the middle of this.
In those same four months, 30,000 children under the age of five have died. WAKE UP WORLD! WAKE UP AMERICA!
So, I figured I lack legitimacy and people don’t really want to trust me. I really want to help and do my part, you see, so I did the next best thing I know how. I organized a fundraising event and got an actual organization that people trust to sponsor the event, the American Refugee Committee. Voila.
You can RSVP to letsallfeedone@gmail.com to reserve a place at the table on September 15.
Or you can donate directly, without going to the banquet.
I called my friend Stephanie Hogenson, who called her cousin who volunteers with the ARC. I got Safari Restaurant and Banquet Center (3010 4th Avenue S., Minneapolis) to donate space that will fit 350 people. They will give us a big discount and prepare a wonderful meal. We got speakers and a beautiful and magical night will take place on Thursday, September 15, 2011 at Safari in Minneapolis, MN.
By now I’m thinking perfect, there is no way my wonderful, amazing Americans could have any excuses of not helping the victims and families of famine in Somalia.
So far, my friends and I have about 20 people on Facebook who said they will come and a couple handfuls of family and friends. We worked on this event for about two months now and it is really sad that only 30 people will come. 30 people in a space for 350.
I am writing this column to plead with my wonderful and amazing online community to come to this event and help me spread the word.
What we do now is more important than ever. Maybe you're busy on the 15th, maybe you don't like banquets, you can still give. For us, it’s a little money out of our wallets, maybe even a pinch in our spending.
For some people it’s the difference between life and death.
From Facebook page for benefit:Enjoy a delicious Somali dinner, hear from our speakers and learn about what is happening in Somlia now and American Refugee Committee's work. Also, hear a personal story from Somali Ifrah Jimale and learn about the famine on the ground from Said Sheik-Abdi who returned from Somalia in August. Bid on fabulous silent auction items and enter the raffle!
Suggested donation of $30 to $50 per person, $25 for students. Includes appetizers, a delicious Somali dinner, presentations, Q&A and mingling! 90% of proceeds go directly to on the ground efforts in Somalia! If you can't make it, send a donation! http://www.arcrelief.org/
Sponsored by the American Refugee Committee. Organized by Stephanie Hogenson, Ifrah Jimale, and Meredith Seaborn
Please R.S.V.P. to letsallfeedone@gmail.com to reserve a place at the table on September 15.
"If you can't feed 100 people, then just feed one."
~Mother Theresa
Safari Restaurant
3010 4th Avenue S.
Minneapolis, MN
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Ifrah Jimale (askasomali@gmail.com) writes the Ask A Somali column for the TC Daily Planet.
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Comments
sorry we missed the event, but we are making a donation
Ifrah - We read your column regularly, because it is always informative and encouraging. Other immigrants from other places can relate to your comments and outlooks as well. With our small gift we hope to help someone in the tragic situation suffering famine and displacement in Somalia. You make a huge difference with your work, take heart! - J&B
great columns!
I just found your columns (via a WAMM link). You give some good information and funny insights. I'm embarrassed to say that I also have wondered about the cell phones :)
Re: aid, while most of us haven't emptied our bank accounts, I'll guess that many of us have given fair sums to Somalia (me via Red Cross) and to other aid organizations to help folks here and abroad. One thing to consider: while it may be the most efficient way to donate, many of us are uncomfortable giving $$ to "just a person" vs to an organization. As it is, abroad and here, so much money disappears into the pockets of corrupt contractors (and, of course, to supporting the bureaucracy of the Red Cross and other .orgs), but at least there's often a paper trail.
I have a question for future consideration. Why is alcohol forbidden, but something else like khat is not? I don't really understand the good and bad points of khat but it sounds like a rather simple mind-altering drug (which might cause auto accidents), not unlike pot or alcohol. I ask because of a long rambling conversation I had with a middle-aged Somali man not long ago.
Thank you!
Ifrah, I know it can be
Ifrah,
I know it can be disconcerting to organize an event and have low respose. I hope that your event fills up. Although I suspect you count me as your "not so wonderful" reader, since I tend to ask unpleasant though heartfelt questions, please know that I actually have already donated as much as I could afford ($100) to help the situation in the Horn of Africa. In my case however I chose to donate to an organization that educates/empowers girls in Ethiopia.
In the event that you do not get the full 350 attendees however please do not blame your non-Somali friends. Here are perhaps a few reasons that more people have not signed up:
1) You have been organizing an event for two months but you only advertized it in your column two days before the event!
2) When you did include a plea to come, you did not include any of the important information (i.e. cost / time / schedule....)
3) When information was posted it was in the form of a facebook page, which requires you to have an account.
4) You seem to have no other web presence for the event. The only other mention I could find was posted by the St. Paul Republican party. Their listing is more informative than anything in this column.
5) You seem to be tring to use guilt and anger to lure people in, which is understandable but likely counter productive.
Those are the easy "organization" reasons people perhaps have not responeded. Unfortunately there are of course other issues:
1) Many people have fatigue regarding the Somali famine. We feel that if we supply simple food aid, and the Somali people do not alter their society to prevent such events in the future (i.e. family planning, overthrow Al Shabab...) then we will just see a bigger crisis the next time the rains fail. I suspect that if you were raising money that would be equally spent on food and contraception you would get a much larger response.
2) Many people read about the huge loss /theft of aid and decide that their money would just end up in the hands of the Islamic fanatics or government thieves. There just seems to be too much corruption to insure that the relief would be used as intended.
3) Many Americans remember all too well what happened the last time we attempted to help the Somali people by providing military support to food aid back in 1993: our troups were killed, mutilated, and dragged naked through the streets of Mogadishu. From our perspective this was disresptful and precludes our further assistance. There is an old english saying: dont bite the hand that feeds you.
While of course you personally had no direct roll in any of these last three issues, it would serve you and the Somali people well if you addressed them directly. On any uncensored discussion regarding Somalia (i.e. CBS, NYT) these are the questions being asked. Avoiding theses issues while still asking for money may not be as effective as you wish.
Re: the same guy that (****)s up this column every week
1.) Al-Shabab does not need to be "overthrown" as they are not in control (officially) of the country in the first place. The one entity that actually managed to stabilize the country and wrest it from the warlords, the Islamic Courts Union, was overthrown with U.S. support by Ethiopia. When these "fanatics" signed a treaty with the occupiers, Al-shabab split off and has been fighting AU and "government" forces since. And exactly what population would suit Somalia to avoid a famine? Five? None? And tell me how a pro-lifer such as yourself expects that to happen, enthusiastic as you are to try it here.
As for 2 and 3, don't play politics with your humanitarian aid, and 2 and 3 won't happen, especially 3. UN and US involvement didn't begin in October 1993, and both were far from neutral in determining who held power in Somalia.
I love the last lines, reassuring the author that you know she wasn't involved in any of the aforementioned events for which you have still blamed her and her country, as if you would need to say that you don't think she personally carried a gun for Al-Shabab. I would say it's outrageous that such a point would even need to be made, but since you've collectively condemned an entire country for said offences, I just don't know.
Oh, and drop the foolishness about "the somali people" this and "the Somali community" that whenever you think they aren't doing enough to counteract your ridiculous preconceptions. Individuals and myriad organizations have talked at length about every issue you've brought up, but if you're looking for some sort of collective statement signed by a million people, the "Somali community" will remain silent. The only place they exist as a single cohesive entity that gives a second thought about what you think of them is in your head.
And I don't think I'd count avoiding letting you know about this event as a shortcoming. Lord knows we'd do it with this column if we could.
You know the editor wrote a column partly because of you, right?
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2011/08/21/editors-desk-racism-comment-section
The FB link did not work for
The FB link did not work for me . More accurate info, please!
tell us more!
Is there a web page with more information about this event? Such as: What time does it start? Who will be speaking? Are there tickets and a fixed menu, or will we just be ordering food and the proceeds go to ARC? If there are tickets, how much do they cost and what will be served?
More info
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169834303091400
It's banquet style, there will be several tables of food to choose from. The speaker is Said Sheik Abdi from the American Refugee Comittee, who just returned from Somalia. We re asking for a donation of $30-50 per person ($25 for students). It starts at 6:30 and ends about 10:00 pm. Thursday Sept. 15.
more info
Here's the Facebook page for the event: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169834303091400
I do not understand why, but the Facebook link does not work well. Here is the text from the Facebook page:
Suggested donation of $30 to $50 per person, $25 for students. Includes appetizers, a delicious Somali dinner, presentations, Q&A and mingling! 90% of proceeds go directly to on the ground efforts in Somalia! If you can't make it, send a donation! http://www.arcrelief.org/
Sponsored by the American Refugee Committee. Organized by Stephanie Hogenson, Ifrah Jimale, and Meredith Seaborn
Please R.S.V.P.
"If you can't feed 100 people, then just feed one."
~Mother Theresa
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