Neighbors for Nations: Somali Community partnering with ARC

About a year and a half ago, Said Sheik-Abdi approached the Minnesota-based American Refugee Committee (ARC) asking the international humanitarian relief agency's presence in Somalia. On April 13, ARC announced a new program, Neighbors for Nations, an ambitious initiative that would attempt to address the humanitarian crisis in Somalia, in partnership with Minnesota's Somali community. The announcement came at a press conference at the Suuqa Karmel Somali Mall in the afternoon.

In the evening, more than 300 people were present at Minneapolis City Hall to hear about the program.  "We have met for one and half years to prepare for this day," said Abdihram Ahmed, a council member and Safari Restaurant owner from Minneapolis.

Anyone who wishes to support the Neighbors for Nations program may contact program manager, Said Sheik-Abdi at 612-872-7060 or SaidS@ARChq.org

Together with the Minnesota-based Internally Displaced Somali Advisory Council, ARC has identified the Galkaayo Education Youth Development Trust as a Somali partner and is building a youth center as the first initiative towards its long-term mission in Somalia.  ARC's president Daniel Wordsworth says the center will provide young men with education, job skills and a safe recreation space. The hope is to provide education job skills in carpentry, mechanics and community health for young male workers. 

This is not ARC's first time in Somalia. Citing safety concerns, the agency left Somalia twelve years ago. Wordsworth said that some regions, like Puntland and Somaliland, are "relatively stable." Many humanitarian organizations work remotely from Nairobi and Djibouti, and there is not enough transparency, Wordsworth says. Further, a twenty-year civil war has left millions of Somalis without very basic needs. Wordsworth says a collaboration with the Somali diaspora is apt since they have continued to care about the plight of their motherland when the rest of the world has ignored Somalia. A 2008 study by the British Department for International Development shows that more than 80 percent of small businesses in Somalia are funded by the diaspora.

An assessment tour of Somalia last summer, and tens of meetings with Somali Minnesotans at community centers and mosques over the last year and a half has proved successful in creating a presence and trust in the local community.

The chair of the Internally Displaced Somali Advisory Council, Yusuf Ali, says that ARC will give legitimacy to the passion of Somalis in assisting their homeland.

"Every weekend, I am invited to a fundraising of sorts," said Ali. "Now we can marry a compassionate Somali community with the ARC's technical know-how." ARC has, for thirty years, worked in humanitarian crises in different parts of the world. Ali is sure that Somali Minnesotans can raise as much money as is needed, and ARC will use those monies to implement projects.

UCare, a local HMO, announced a $50,000 matching grant for Neighbors for Nations. Many of UCare's employees and clients are Somali. "We would like to go beyond making financial contributions," said its CEO Nancy Feldman. The United Way has pledged $100,000.

Other fundraising efforts include a 1,000 Giving $1000 initiative in the local Somali community. St. Paul's Southwest High School senior Mohamed Samatar is one of thirty Somali Minnesotans who have pledged to raise $1,000. "I want to give back to my community," he said. In a similar fundraising initiative, Samatar said he raised $20,000 in eight days and will use those skills to raise money for Neighbors for Nations.

Nekessa Opoti

Nekessa Opoti (nekessa@tcdailyplanet.net) is a Minneapolis based writer.

Jeanette Fordyce

Writer / Wildlife Artist / Teacher
jeanette.fordyce@gmail.com