02/01/2012
Comparative Analysis of Somali Refugees in the U.S. and Sweden
As a international student from Sweden and currently a intern with, Somali Family Care Network (SFCN) in the Washington, DC area. First of all, I have to say that I’m surprised and amazed at number of self-help Somali organizations that are working for and with fellow Somalis to assist them in integrating into their new communities and to learn about the culture and traditions of the United States.
I am truly grateful for the internship opportunity with SFCN. On my first week, I was invited to participate in a three day training workshop they held for partner organizations in Washington. This opportunity gave me a better insight into their work, particularly Project Gargaar, and how they lead and work with other Somali community organizations across the country. I met participants from Somali organization such as the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota (CSCM) based in Minneapolis; the Somali Family Services of San Diego and Somali Youth and Family Club in Seattle. I met and networked with Abdirazak Farah, a policy advisor at the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and Ron Munia, Director of Community Resettlement at the Office of Refugee Resettlement. All the participants gave a highly researched presentation about their communities and organizations which allowed for an interesting analysis and discussions among the participants. This was a great time to exchange ideas, opinions and learn from each other. The eagerness and motivation to do more and learn more was high. This experience increased my aspirations and goals and I know that this knowledge will be very helpful when I return to Sweden.
The training workshop focused on Project Gargaar, a youth leadership and empowerment project. The objective of this project is to foster a cadre of young Somali leaders who will guide and support Somali refugee youth in making important life choices such as completing their general education, contributing to their communities, avoiding criminal behavior and become role models for the younger generation. According to the participants, the crime rate amongst Somali boys in the United States is very high because of the many complex issues they experience as young African men, as refugees, and as members of a low-income, low literate society with different cultural experiences and challenges. One of the biggest issues for refugees is the choices they make when they are faced with retaining their family’s culture or integrating into the new one.
SFCN’s Project Gargaar also addresses the significant strain that develops between children and parents and provides community forums to engage in open discussions and build better communication link. In the end, no matter what problems or concerns these young people face, they are our future. They deserve a second chance and all the support and help there is to give. Somali Family Care Network, with help of other community organizations in different parts of the country, provide hope, inspiration and guidance in an effort to ensure the next generation of Somali youth are equipped with the right tools and skills to overcome their various challenges and succeed in this country.
What amazes me the most and makes me proud of my internship is that the work we do is so important and giving. I have never experienced anything similar in Sweden. The resettlement policies in Sweden are so different, and so difficult that it makes it hard to integrate into the culture and society. America is land of all colors and if you work hard enough it is possible that you will have the opportunity to have a comfortable life. The refugees and immigrants in Sweden face a hard time being accepted in their host community and learning the official language. Most refugees would greatly benefit from meeting successful compatriots who can proudly say: “Walaal, I was in the same situation as you two years ago. Today I have a job, I know the language and I feel that this is my home now, and it can be yours too.” From my brief observation of Somali-Americans, I can say that USA is the land of opportunity and if refugees work hard, they will most likely succeed.
In contrast, what Sweden lacks is community cohesion, cross-cultural interest and available opportunities to enable effective integration. Economic inequalities and class differences between the communities creates barriers that prevent newcomers from establishing a strong foundation in the country. The detached Swedish culture also helps to breed a sense of isolationism and further estranges refugees from getting to know their neighbors and integrating into the community. And while these are legitimate barriers, it is perhaps the Swedish norm to be distant and not take interest in others’ affairs. The government expects that the new arrivals to quickly integrate into a modern society that utilizes a different language, operates with advanced technology and observes unique rules and regulation. This is very difficult for a refugee, who just escaped from war and terror, and who may not have had access to the most basic necessities of life. It is these differences in the resettlement process that makes Sweden and many Scandinavian countries a challenge for effective integration.
As a Swedish citizen, I am grateful for the many opportunities I have had to succeed in my home country. But I am even more impressed and proud of the work SFCN and other community-based organizations do for refugees and immigrants in helping them settle and succeed in their new communities. And I will highly recommend their work and bring this knowledge and experience to Sweden where it will hopefully make a change. I hope this has given readers a brighter insight and inspired them to make your dreams come true.
Fatima Fathiya Hirsi
