This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend a lecture about “raising Somali children in America” and the lecture was delivered by Sheik Hassan Jamici from MN. I was really quiet eager to know what this man would impart to us the youth and to our parents, who were included in the invitation and showed up in record numbers…And when I mean “record numbers” i don’t’ mean thousands of parents showing up like in certain cities, more like everyone who has children or lives in our city showed up, to hear the lecture…The Sheik’s speech primarily focused on some of the statistical data about issues facing Somaliyouth in this country…Alcohol, pre-marital sex, teen pregnancy, drugs, disobedience, homosexuality, and smoking….I think parents were surprised by the number of Somali youth involved in any of these activities, and for me that was sort of a good thing, it would give the parents an idea of the struggles facing their children and maybe be actively participating in their children’s lives…This lecture was definitely a broad look on some of the issues, but to be honest, I was looking for something more directional…Which i had the opportunity after the speech to speak with the sheik and make a suggestion of possibly returning to do a presentation focusing on five major things kids today are faced with…And providing a method of discussion between child and parent…Providing the answer to a child’s question in Islamic fashion and as accurately possible are important tools of upbringing and hopefully the sheik would return to impart those tools to the parents…Rather than just telling parents the problems, it would be more beneficial to provide some answers and positive resolutions to such issues…Overall I thought it was very entertaining and informative and a good first step toward proactive parent/child relationship…bee bye, Khadra
Mohamud said,
May 29, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
Indeed we are faced with quite a situation…still i believe islam and somali culture…plus western values are still compatible…
fii amanallah
khadraworld said,
May 30, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
Well one of the thing mentioned in the lecture was how back in somalia, kids didn’t approach their fathers asking for homework help, and mothers were busy tending the house and what not…But now in this culture, each parent is required to spend quality time and alone time with their children to figure out their progress in school and issues they might be facing…A parent should know who his child is friend with and be actively aware of his child’s activity…Back in the day, the neighboors and others living in your house raised your children with you…You trust them to admonish your child if they see them doing something wrong and to impart teachings to them also.
When you said “western values” the way i see them being compatible in your mind is when your personal values are compatible to western values rather than religious values being compatible to western values…The concern is only when the western values predominate the true values ones should have as a muslim individual.
The point of the lecture i believe was that we can’t be passive any longer when it comes to the education of our children…The responsibility is soley ours and we have to step up and take it seriously…Khadra
Hassan said,
June 22, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
Khadra you seem you have a very good grasp of the challenges facing the Somali communiites here in the US. There is an upcoming event sponsored by the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare of the university of MN. The event would take place on june 28th, 2007( please see more details at university’s website) if you can. You may benefit and contribute a lot.
khadraworld said,
June 25, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
Well Hassan I appriciate the information unfortunately due to the time constraints I wouldn’t be able to make it there…But if you do attend, I would greatly appriciate any feedback you might be willing to share…I would though check out the website information…Again thank you for your kind words…bee bye, Khadra
Fowsi Ali said,
August 13, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
Everyone of us is well-versed the challenges that our youths are facing in the U.S. Sheikh Hassan Jami’s lecture was very simple; that is, his speech was equivalent of that “fadhi ku dirir.” He didn’t provide something new. He just repeats the outcry of the Somali community.
Hassan Jamai putted himself a position that he don’t belong to. In other words, he is not educated enough (in this context education doesn’t mean, just, enrolling a college. Rather, it means grasping and appreciating the core of your topic which, unfortunately, the sheikh failed to succeed). He should not give lectures to Somali parents or anyone since he himself doesn’t understand our tribulations.
Melina said,
December 20, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
very interesting. i’m adding in RSS Reader
Harun said,
December 3, 2008 @ 5:43 am
Salamu calaykum………my Name is Harun Mohamed from Somalia?Mogadishu, and i iwanna to say saome about Somalia children live in Mogadishu. I am very happy if you like trying to recommend a Motherless babies Home live in Somalia. God will bless the people live to them Selves For Somali children, even soccer can be deadly
Quarter of kids die before age 5; aid groups look at war’s psychological toll………..”In Mogadishu, fighting is everywhere,” and Somalia 50% of Somalia children are motherless because women in Mogadishu have been massacred by bullets of guns shells of cannons and draughts
So Somalia hasn’t usual live. No Job, no peace. No stability, killing, kidnapping, ransacking, looting, and raping, became Normal hare in Somalia especially in Mogadishu,
so children are dying in dies criminate every day in Mogadishu “Every morning we heard bullets. I thank God we left that place.” and in Somalia because of lack of food oks that all so if you are interting to talk about this please contact me As you can ok here
E-mail: fishal@hotmail.co.uk or teacherarun2@hotmail.com
Telphone:0025215309085 or 0014197126107
Mr.Harun Mohamed
Sagal said,
February 2, 2009 @ 7:07 pm
Reading some of the remarks some people made about Sheikh Hassan’s lecture, no matter what whether is simple or complex issue at least the Sheikh give to the Somali parents heads-up what they are facing raising children in north America, so we should appreciate on his effort. Especially the Somali men should take stand on the issue of parenting very seriously because men are the head of the house, and they should acknowledge we are not in Somalia, and forget how it was in Somalia to raise a child, please we should not take out of context to Sheikh’s lecture after all it will help and give some kind of awareness to a lot of Somali parents about the problems our Somali youth are facing in North America. God Bless all the Somali Youth