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Introduction:
The people known as the Somali Bantu, particularly those with a lineage to slavery, have endured discrimination and subjugation in
Somalia for 200 years. During the recent war in Somalia, the Bantu were again the victims of violence in that country. Once arriving in
Kenya as refugees in 1992, many of them stated their wish to resettle in their ancestral southeast African homelands. The Somali Bantu
refugees have been actively seeking protection through third-country resettlement since 1993. Of the roughly 20,000 Somali Bantu
refugees in Africa and Yemen, some 5,000 found refuge in Tanzania.
In 1999, the United States Government offered the remaining 12,000 Somali Bantu refugees in Kenya the protection they had been seeking
for over 10 years. The refugees will be settled in over 50 cities in 38 states. The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) awards
state governments and non-profit agencies grants to facilitate the refugees' integration into this country. Portland State University's
National Somali Bantu Project, in partnership with the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), was awarded an ORR "ethnic
self-help" grant in 2003. The overall goal of the project is to work with the Somali Bantu refugees and service providers to make the
resettlement and integration process more successful.
The initial objective of this project is to increase the knowledge and understanding of the service provider community about the Somali
Bantus' history, culture and practical challenges in the United States. Secondary objectives of the project include leadership training
and promoting agricultural opportunities, among others, that help build strong families and communities.
National Somali Bantu Workshops in Louisville, Kentucky - From
Friday August 15th - Sunday August 17th, 2008
please click here for objectives of the workshops.
Printable version of the schedule please click here
Somali Bantu in the USA, Breaking free of the Past:
Accessing Opportunity and Achieving The American Dream.
National Somali Bantu Workshops,
Louisville, Kentucky Friday August 15th - Sunday
17th, 2008 |
| FIRDAY, AUGUST 15, 2008
Somali Bantu representatives meeting at 6:00 pm
Discussion about the agenda and the formation of a National Somali Bantu Leadership Council (Nominate Candidates)
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| SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2008
7:00 AM TO 9:00 AM
Registration
Obtaining the Per Dium
Obtaining logistic expenditure, (Gas, Car rentals)
FROM 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
VARIOUS SPEAKERS:
Mayor Jerry Edwin Abramson, Mayor of Louisville: Welcoming the participants
Refugee State Coordinator: The role of refugees
Mr. Tom Giossi . Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)
Prof. Catherine Besteman: The Somali Bantu in the U.S. .From Somalia to the USA.
Prof. Abdi M Kusow: The Somali Bantu Integration in American Society
Prof. Abdi I. Samatar (to be confirmed)
Dr. Mohamed Abdulkadir E. Baraka
Mr. Muhiadin Mohamed Kalmoi, Somali Poet and Motivator
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| WORKSHOPS TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING SIMULTANEOUSLY:
FROM 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER BUILDING
EDUCATION & LITERACY IMPROVEMENT ON BOTH CHILDREN & ADULTS
CITIZENSHIP, GREEN-CARDS AND OTHER FAMILY & SOCIAL ISSUES
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING
How to form an organization
How to seek and write grants
How to interact with other NGO'S
How to unite the community
TRAUMA COUNCELLING FOR CHILDREN & PARENTS
FROM 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
COLLECTING THE MINUTES CONTAINING THE CONCENSUS SOLUTION FROM ALL WORKSHOPS
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 2008
9:00 - 10:00 AM
Mr. Abdulkadir Yusuf, To give a brief background of Somali Bantu community in Buffalo success and challanges
Mr. Ali Hussein Sheikh, To give a brief background of Somali Bantu community in Portland, Oregon success and challanges
Mr. Hamadi Madisa, To give a brief background of Somali Bantu Community San Diego,California success and challanges
10:00 - 11:00 AM
SUMMARY OF THE VARIOUS WORKSHOPS
11:00 am to 1:00 PM
ELECTION DAY & SELECTING THE NEW LEADER FOR NATIONAL SOMALI BANTU LEADERSHIP
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Wood carving by Makonde carvers in Northern Mozambique depicting the 200 year history of the Somali Bantu refugees with slave ancestory.
1997.
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