Friday 5 June
by Faduma Yusuf
On June 5th 2015, members of the Somali community and various community partners gathered at the Ron Kolbus-Lakeside Centre in Ottawa’s west-end to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Somali Youth Support Project and raise funds for two local grassroots causes benefitting youth and their families. There were over 250 people in attendance for the great evening to celebrate the Somali culture and community initiatives.
The Somali Youth Support Project housed at the Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre, is a long-term project located in the City’s west-end that seeks to foster the health and integration of Somali Youth and their families. The Project has year-long initiatives that culminate in a year-end fundraising gala for community projects. For the past 10 years, Canadian-Somali Children/Youth and the community have held the annual fundraising campaign that for worthwhile local and international causes. In total over the past 10 years, youth have come together and participated in generating approximately $35,000+ over the past decade for amazing local and international initiatives that they believe in. Past recipients have included local homework clubs, CHEO, EndZone Football, Hope Academy and WaterCan.
This year, children and youth provided coordination, entertainment, and served as volunteers as the community came together with organizations and supporters to raise funds for Camp Inspyred and The Canadian Somali Mothers’ Association. The gala’s theme was “Rising Up: Stronger than Yesterday” was meant to reflect on the past ten years of community mobilization and service delivery in the west end. Bay Ward City Councillor and Deputy Mayor Mark Taylor delivered a heartfelt and empowering Community Address that focused on the importance of giving back to your community. Youth crafted a moving speech in which they reflected on all the sacrifices parents have made, all the investments community partners have made and all work that has been in the past ten years in the city’s west end.
The true highlight of the evening was a keynote speech delivered by two amazing young adults of the community; Saeed Ali (Carleton University Student and Aspiring Ottawa Police Officer) and Nora Elmi (A New Graduate of Carleton University’s Social Work Program and Aspiring Motivational Speaker). Nora and Saeed delivered a keynote address that enlightened everyone in the room about the necessity of remaining engaged with your community and the benefits of being civically engaged. In addition, there were amazing cultural performances by children and local cultural artists in the City (Hamid Ayoub and Raysso Aden). The evening featured wonderful Somali food, a photo-booth courtesy of Hot Flash Photography and decorations by local decorator Sahar Faqiri, SoSahar.
The community and the youth look forward to another amazing ten years of engagement, education and integration.
If you would like to learn more about the Somali Youth Support Project, please contact the coordinator, Faduma Yusuf at [email protected].
About the 2015 Recipients
Camp Inspyred is a camping retreat for young women facing barriers in the Ottawa area. Along with the usual camp activities – swimming, campfires, and art and games night – there are workshops on topics such as confidence, identity, and leadership.
The Canadian Somali Mothers’ Association is a grassroots organization that is looking to offer educational workshops directed for newcomer parents and families about issues affecting children and youth. These workshops are primarily about crime prevention, neighbourhood issues and the educational system. Furthermore, the CSMA works tirelessly to advocate on behalf of incarcerated youth and their families in an effort to reduce second offences and crime in neighbourhoods.
