WOMEN’s EMPOWERMENT FORWOMEN’s EMPOWERMENT FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY SELF-SUFFICIENCY

By: By:

Mohamed Ali Abukar, PhDMohamed Ali Abukar, PhD

*All Pictures in this Presentation are used only for Educational Purposes

ROOTS CAUSES OF ROOTS CAUSES OF AFRICAN CONFLICTSAFRICAN CONFLICTS

• After obtaining independence, most African After obtaining independence, most African countries were Democracy deficient.countries were Democracy deficient.

• While the move of independence status was a While the move of independence status was a welcome change, the transition to democracy welcome change, the transition to democracy has not always been smooth.has not always been smooth.

• The dictatorial model of governing has The dictatorial model of governing has persisted with a general lack of political persisted with a general lack of political maturity.maturity.

• The modernization process was not properly The modernization process was not properly advanced to provide conditions for complete advanced to provide conditions for complete democracy and freedom.democracy and freedom.

• Tribalism has fueled inter-conflicts and Tribalism has fueled inter-conflicts and struggle for internal power in several struggle for internal power in several African countries.African countries.

SOMALIA AND THE POWER SOMALIA AND THE POWER STRUGGLE’S CONFLICTSTRUGGLE’S CONFLICT

• Clan rivalry is the driving force behind Somalia’s now Clan rivalry is the driving force behind Somalia’s now 21 year old civil war, which has caused death, misery, 21 year old civil war, which has caused death, misery, massacre, mass graves and dispersion of more than one massacre, mass graves and dispersion of more than one million Somalis.million Somalis.

• It may be difficult to even imagine, but when that It may be difficult to even imagine, but when that happens, there are atrocities, especially upon the happens, there are atrocities, especially upon the female population and the minorities, which includes female population and the minorities, which includes assaults of all kinds, tortures, rape and witnessing the assaults of all kinds, tortures, rape and witnessing the murder of a very close family members.murder of a very close family members.

• Arising out of this devastating situation rose AMERICA, Arising out of this devastating situation rose AMERICA, the country whose promise has always been, and continues the country whose promise has always been, and continues to be, to take in those in an oppressive situation and to be, to take in those in an oppressive situation and provide them with FREEDOM and OPPORTUNITY.provide them with FREEDOM and OPPORTUNITY.

• Somalia is currently going through the worst drought in over Somalia is currently going through the worst drought in over sixty years!sixty years!

*Clan militia who are the root cause of the civil war.

*Civil war and power struggle based on tribalism has caused these people to leave their home and seek refuge in neighboring countries.

THE SOMALI REFUGEE THE SOMALI REFUGEE COMMUNITY IN ARIZONACOMMUNITY IN ARIZONA

• Currently, there are about 11,000 Somali residing in Currently, there are about 11,000 Somali residing in Arizona, of which (70%) are female and live in Arizona, of which (70%) are female and live in Maricopa County, particularly in the Greater Phoenix Maricopa County, particularly in the Greater Phoenix area.area.

• A recent survey of health providers in Maricopa A recent survey of health providers in Maricopa County, reported in the Arizona Republic, revealed County, reported in the Arizona Republic, revealed that Somali placed second to Spanish as the most that Somali placed second to Spanish as the most requested language for health interpreters.requested language for health interpreters.

• Very basic cultural barriers begin with an Very basic cultural barriers begin with an unfamiliarity of how medical providers function in unfamiliarity of how medical providers function in American society.American society.

• Refugees must overcome all barriers, which is a Refugees must overcome all barriers, which is a significant challenge, and yet, a huge opportunity significant challenge, and yet, a huge opportunity for change.for change.

*Somali refugee gathering for socialization program.

SOMALI REFUGEE WOMENSOMALI REFUGEE WOMEN

Traditionally, Somali women have been raised in an Traditionally, Somali women have been raised in an extremely male-dominated society and encouraged to extremely male-dominated society and encouraged to play a passive role in the public and private play a passive role in the public and private spheres.spheres.

Now, suddenly, they find themselves in forefront, Now, suddenly, they find themselves in forefront, left with the difficult tasks to understand and left with the difficult tasks to understand and receive access to appropriate healthcare, take on a receive access to appropriate healthcare, take on a more active role and empowerment, become self-more active role and empowerment, become self-sufficient and integrate properly.sufficient and integrate properly.

They must navigate in a new cultural system, which They must navigate in a new cultural system, which will result in feelings of disconnection.will result in feelings of disconnection.

These women must overcome cultural and language These women must overcome cultural and language barriers, must seek employment and medical barriers, must seek employment and medical attention, while making other decisions regarding attention, while making other decisions regarding their lives and families.their lives and families.

SOMALI REFUGEES AND SOMALI REFUGEES AND PTSDPTSD

As consequence of the civil war, the Somali As consequence of the civil war, the Somali refugees respond to PTSD with a variety of refugees respond to PTSD with a variety of symptoms, such as depression, flashbacks, symptoms, such as depression, flashbacks, misplaced anger and feeling of disconnection.misplaced anger and feeling of disconnection.

People feel very passive and “shut down” overly People feel very passive and “shut down” overly aggressive, or unable to concentrate.aggressive, or unable to concentrate.

Treatment with Western medicine is a method with Treatment with Western medicine is a method with which the Somali refugee has no experiencewhich the Somali refugee has no experience

SAUC is committed to provide a system and make SAUC is committed to provide a system and make sure that the refugee receives access to sure that the refugee receives access to appropriate healthcare before it’s too late, which appropriate healthcare before it’s too late, which will result in an increase to the positive social will result in an increase to the positive social change, emotional support and successful change, emotional support and successful integration process.integration process.

SOMALI AMERICAN UNITED SOMALI AMERICAN UNITED COUNCIL OF ARIZONACOUNCIL OF ARIZONA

SAUC, a non-profit organization, was formed SAUC, a non-profit organization, was formed in July 2006 in response to the growing need in July 2006 in response to the growing need to connect Somali community in Arizona with to connect Somali community in Arizona with each other and the rest of the American each other and the rest of the American society.society.

SAUC fills a critical need by helping newly SAUC fills a critical need by helping newly arrived families adjust to their lives, arrived families adjust to their lives, location, language and culture.location, language and culture.

The mission is to promote a better The mission is to promote a better understanding between the Somali refugee understanding between the Somali refugee community and other American communities, community and other American communities, and help members of the Somali community and help members of the Somali community properly integrate into the mainstream properly integrate into the mainstream American society while preserving their own American society while preserving their own cultureculture. .

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMSPROGRAMS

The mission of the SAUC is carried out The mission of the SAUC is carried out through community development programs, through community development programs, which are organized according to the needs which are organized according to the needs of the community.of the community.

Our activities includes: Mentorship, case Our activities includes: Mentorship, case management, translations, referrals, job management, translations, referrals, job replacement, community outreach, community replacement, community outreach, community empowerment, family crises prevention, empowerment, family crises prevention, breast cancer education and outreach breast cancer education and outreach session, ESL & Citizenship classes, basic session, ESL & Citizenship classes, basic sewing classes, child care professional sewing classes, child care professional training, parenting education and others.training, parenting education and others.

The council also provides help managing The council also provides help managing community issues such as health concerns and community issues such as health concerns and crucial cultural servicescrucial cultural services. .

*Women Empowerment group in socialization session and building special Relationships.

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES FOR PROGRAM ACTIVITIES FOR WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

The council provides a support system that will The council provides a support system that will enable the Somali refugee women to complete an enable the Somali refugee women to complete an empowerment program, and includes:empowerment program, and includes: Mentorship/case management and clients’ interaction Mentorship/case management and clients’ interaction

on sensitive issueson sensitive issues Support group, group training and tutoringSupport group, group training and tutoring Translation and transportation servicesTranslation and transportation services Promotion of receptivity to new ideas and Promotion of receptivity to new ideas and

acceptance to change.acceptance to change. Socialization through cultural gatherings and Socialization through cultural gatherings and

“sister support group”, and parenting education “sister support group”, and parenting education sessionssessions

Promoting debates and group discussions on Promoting debates and group discussions on sensitive issues.sensitive issues.

Promoting understanding on the proper way of Promoting understanding on the proper way of benefitting from their healthcare providers, benefitting from their healthcare providers, providing translations, advocacy and emotional providing translations, advocacy and emotional supportsupport

VOLUNTEER MENTORSVOLUNTEER MENTORS

The structure of the organization’s program The structure of the organization’s program to overcome barriers is recruiting and to overcome barriers is recruiting and utilizing mentor/ case management volunteers utilizing mentor/ case management volunteers that advocate by providing emotional support that advocate by providing emotional support and serving as a cultural intermediary as and serving as a cultural intermediary as well as a role model, who has achieved well as a role model, who has achieved success at cultural integration.success at cultural integration.

These volunteers are given continuous and These volunteers are given continuous and good advice to overcome all obstacles.good advice to overcome all obstacles.

These mentors have received specific These mentors have received specific training to act as advocates and help training to act as advocates and help translating diagnosis and treatment into a translating diagnosis and treatment into a culturally relevant context.culturally relevant context.

*S.A.U.C volunteer team in action to provide a support system for empowerment.

USED METHODOLOGYUSED METHODOLOGY

The used methodology is based on outreach, The used methodology is based on outreach, lectures and educational videos containing all lectures and educational videos containing all possible information relevant to the program’s possible information relevant to the program’s topicstopics..

Visual aids and other educational materials Visual aids and other educational materials are also used to show additional information.are also used to show additional information.

Face to face, group discussions and open Face to face, group discussions and open debate is always facilitated, and all debate is always facilitated, and all questions are entertained, discussed and questions are entertained, discussed and properly answered.properly answered.

The council is committed to gathering evidence The council is committed to gathering evidence to show that the used method effectively to show that the used method effectively achieves the goals and creates effective and achieves the goals and creates effective and meaningful empowerment process for self-meaningful empowerment process for self-sufficiency.sufficiency.

*Group Support & Women Empowerment Session.

OUTCOMES AND OUTCOMES AND FOLLOW-UPFOLLOW-UP

The outcomes are intended to ensure a positive effect The outcomes are intended to ensure a positive effect on the improvement of the human condition of a on the improvement of the human condition of a socially committed people who are able to work socially committed people who are able to work successfully, achieve self-sufficiency by properly successfully, achieve self-sufficiency by properly integrating into the mainstream American society, and integrating into the mainstream American society, and have the wisdom and skills to work toward ignorance have the wisdom and skills to work toward ignorance eradication.eradication.

The approach will help the Somali refugee women to The approach will help the Somali refugee women to become immensely powerful in a positive way and become immensely powerful in a positive way and enhance their acceptance and receptivity to their new enhance their acceptance and receptivity to their new society and the new social change.society and the new social change.

The SAUC will share the results and information with The SAUC will share the results and information with other nonprofit organization working with refugees, other nonprofit organization working with refugees, and will follow-up with the beneficiary or clients and will follow-up with the beneficiary or clients after completion of the program to demonstrate the after completion of the program to demonstrate the level of progress and achievement.level of progress and achievement.