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Mahad Hussein, Mohammed Osman, Farah Jibril, Abdulkader
Arshe, Khalid Farah and Ato Mahad |
Somali youths bridging the generation gap
A GROUP of young Somalis are calling for more youth workers
and elected Somali councillors.
But the calls come as it was revealed the Somali Youth Resources
Centre (SYRC) in Kentish Town may be forced to shut following
a Town Hall decision not to grant an expected £86,000
from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.
Now centre chiefs, who have been trying to increase resources
following the murder of 18-year-old Somalian Mahir Osman in
January, say the decision will hit their plans.
Centre trustee Abdul Farah said: “The local authority has
failed us. They said they will help us with our young men. We
warned them gang culture would come to Camden if they didn’t
do something.”
Mr Farah said the council had promised to help the community
in the aftermath of Mr Osman’s death, adding: “To
withdraw the resources at such a critical time is something
we’re disappointed with. We were crying out to the local
authority but it fell on deaf ears. Young people are back to
hanging around in Camden.”
But the news has made one group of 17 to 22 year olds determined
to prove otherwise.
Town Hall funds have been used to train young people as youth
workers, who have organised trips and an evening of traditional
food, rap, movies and talks at the Irish Centre on Camden Road
to “bridge the gap” between Somali youths and elders.
Abdul Kadir Arshe, who helped organise the event says the evening
was designed to show Somali youths they are capable of anything.
He said: “We are no longer the lost generation. There’s
a lack of Somali youth workers, and young Somali men and women
involved in how the community is run. There should be more councillors.”
While the council, in the form of Camden Detached Project, is
enabling the young group to organise themselves, critics say
they have undone the good work by cutting vital funds. Labour
Councillor Theo Blackwell, who was involved in the decision
not to award the centre the grant, said: “They knew the
money was going to run out. We looked at the issue and we have
put more money into Somali youth provision than ever before.” |
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