Ambiguous Future

AMBIGUOUS FUTURE

Toronto continues to welcome Somali immigrants and their contributions to the city’s economic, sports, social and cultural fabric. While welcoming and celebrating the numerous ways Somalis add to the richness of this great city, Toronto also needs to recognize and work to overcome the many difficulties the community struggles with. These difficulties continue to negatively impact our collective welfare as residents and citizens. At the forefront of the community’s struggles is the future of their children and youth.

There are bright, talented and creative Somali youth whose influences and contributions reverberate all over the world. As well there are some who quietly and without any fanfare, do give back to their communities and Canada every day. One of those youth, though not publicly acknowledged, yet tirelessly work to enrich our country, is Idman. This young girl came to Canada at age nine and went to school here in Toronto.
When she was fourteen, Idman lived with her parents in an apartment a Dixon Ave. area high-rise during the time when the tension between the Somalis and the security guards was at its boiling point. She began to quietly act as a mediator between the two opposing cultures. She became the informal leader of many youth, whom she engaged with in constructive discourse on what they can together accomplish as youngsters. At high school she continued to effectively connect with the school leadership and helped to facilitate many religious needs of the Somali students.

At university she sustained her relentless determination to positively influence many Somali youth. Because of her leadership many Somali students completed their university education and became successfully employed. Idman organized many forums, conferences and support groups that empowered many Somali youth, and helped them gain the confidence and ability to succeed. She offered them platforms to develop their own voices and vision that guided many of their accomplishments and their dreams of peacefully living in Canada while observing their Islamic faith.

Although the successes of many Somali youth comfort us, and fill us with pride, there are so many others who were not fortunate enough to have their aspirations and potential met. Their future is clouded with uncertainty and ambiguity. Take the example of Filanwaa who came to Canada at age five after tragically losing both of his parents in the devastating Somali civil war. Filanwaa was adopted by his loving aunt who ensured that his basic needs were met. Filanwaa became the adoring son of his aunt. The aunt’s children treated him like their own brother and never made him feel that his parents, whom he had a faint memory of, had perished.

In Toronto, he attended school in a middle class neighbourhood where his family lived and was seated in a class according to his age. His difficulties begun there, as he struggled to cope with the structure required for learning in a Canadian classroom. With the language barrier and perhaps his means of cultural expression, Filanwaa failed to “obey” and “conform” to school rules. The teacher felt intimidated by this “rude” child and constantly reprimanded him. He was ostracized. Filanwaa was ultimately expelled from school after he pushed a child who taunted him. He felt that he did not belong there and begun hanging out with older children in the nearby high-rises.

Alarmed and helpless, his aunt transferred him to an Islamic school. However, Filanwaa continued to associate with the older children and skipped classes. He identified himself with the kids on the street. They comforted each other, understood one another and met each other’s need for belonging and companionship. They begun stealing from Somali owned stores and from the nearby Malls. Thus began the downfall for Filanwaa.

Filanwaa was caught shoplifting in a Mall and was jailed. During his brief stay in a detention facility, he became acquainted with street gang members whom he befriended after his release. A month after his 19th birthday, Filanwaa got involved in a fight with another teenager who apparently belonged to a different gang. Arrested again, he was found guilty and sentenced to six months in prison and a year of probation. After his release Filanwaa wanted to return to a “normal” life.

Filanwaa returned to live with his aunt whose love and generosity for him never ceased. Due to her unconditional love, support and deep attachment, she convinced Filanwaa to think about and attempt to reclaim what might have appeared to be his ruined future. She wanted him to finish high school, but he could barely read or write and was deeply embarrassed by this. He just wanted to get a job, any job, but because of his criminal record it was difficult to get hired.

What can Filanwaa do now to get his life and future back on course? Devastated by past mistakes that continue to haunt him and dictate his future, Filanwaa needs help and support to put his life back on the right track. Toronto and Canada must come to the aid of many Somali youth caught and trapped in similar situation.

There are so many youth who have similar experiences as Filanwaa. We have to analyse their stories and experiences in order to understand the dynamics of their lives. As we analyze and ponder on Filanwaa’s situation, we also should be cognizant and consider the factors that might have furnished Idman’s success. We need to come up with a plan to assist and ensure that these youth maintain a crime free and productive livelihood. We need to invest in and create initiatives such as recreation programs, homework clubs and mentoring opportunities in order to steer away others in similar experiences. Why? Because in the future of these children and youth, rests the future of the Somali Canadian community.

Said Y Dirie, MSW
Editor and Chair of the Advisory Board, Immigrant Post Magazine

e-mail: editor@immigrantpost.ca