By Izaak Martin, New School University
The climatic difference between East Africa and Minnesota might seem staggering enough. However, a vastly colder February is but a small adjustment compared to others facing East African immigrants and refugees in their stateside resettlement in the ethnically diverse Minneapolis neighborhood of Cedar-Riverside. Learning a new language, adapting to a new culture, and finding steady employment are some of the everyday challenges that must be met by these new residents. Providing the means to contend with these issues for the burgeoning East African population in the Twin Cities was the impetus behind the creation of the Somali International Minorities of America (SIMA) in 2001. The organization’s name belies its scope, as it seeks to help not only Somalis but also other East African immigrant and refugee minorities such as Ethiopians and Eritreans. It has found that offering ESL classes is an effective initial means of bringing this community together and serving its interests.
“Language is the key to integration,” according to SIMA executive director Bashir Diriye, and has therefore been the principal thrust of SIMA’s work thus far. SIMA holds ESL classes in the community rooms of six housing complexes in East Minneapolis, where many of the refugees they serve reside. Classes convene four times a week and can draw over 20 students per session.
For many students, SIMA’s classes are their first time in a formalized education setting; often they are able to speak but not read their native tongue. Since Somali and other East African languages also use the Roman alphabet, students are taught first to read and then write in their own language, thus setting the foundation for future English language lessons.
Despite the challenge of undertaking this extra step, SIMA’s efforts have paid dividends. Some of its students have gone on to pass the U.S. citizenship test, greatly aided by what they have learned in SIMA ESL courses.
Refugee students young and old benefit from these classes. Diriye tells the story of one of his oldest students, close to 80 years old, who never attended school. Unable to read or write his own language, this student began class in November 2007 and is now able to read the local Somali newspapers – which help him keep up with community affairs. He also has proven his newfound writing abilities, constructing sentences in what Diriye describes as “an intermediate level” on the class blackboard. These particular accomplishments have allowed SIMA’s client the opportunity to better participate in his community – and instilled in him a well-earned sense of pride. His face shows that the classes have a real value and purpose for participants regardless of the age, past experience, or ultimate goal of the student.
Beyond the individual benefits, the classes help to strengthen the community as a whole.
Beyond ESL courses, SIMA’s staff and volunteers help refugees complete and file documents and act as a liaison to the greater Minneapolis area for the East African community. SIMA has aspirations to expand beyond teaching ESL to providing employment assistance and more extensive one-on-one counseling.
The IRC’s Project Strengthening Organizations Assisting Refugees (SOAR) is helping SIMA to achieve its goals, assisting with goal-setting, planning, and building relationships with other organizations, in hopes of helping SIMA to achieve its objectives around service in the East African community in Minneapolis.
Acknowledgements:
In fall of 2009, as part of the Graduate Practicum in International Affairs, four graduate students at New School University partnered with the International Rescue Committee and three Ethnic Community Based Organizations (ECBOs) to profile their work.
For More Information, Contact:
Somali International Minorities of America
(SIMA) http://simaorganization.blogspot.com/
801 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404
Bashir Diriye bashirdiriye@hotmail.com
Excutive Director
612-359-1248
