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ConnectingCommunitiesOBVNewsIssue5Summer201019isnotforlackoftrying.Shesaidx1cThereisageneralperceptionthatSomalisarex18invisiblex19andunabletointegrate.Actuallythatisnotthecase.AccordingtoICARInformationCentreaboutAsylumandRefugeesmuchavailabledataisignoredbytheauthorities.Soitisnotsomuchthecasethatweareinvisiblebutpoliticiansandpolicymakershavedoneverylittletoengagewiththiscommunityandrespondtoitsneeds.x1dItx19sapointthatAhmedMohamed25hopestoaddress.HebemoanedwhathesawasalackofintegrationbyyoungSomalisintothewidercommunityandhopedthathispoliticalinvolvementcouldchangethat.x1cIthinkthattheyoungpeopleinourcommunityarenotintegratingenough.Toooftentheyremaininsularanddonotgetinvolvedinthewidercommunityx1dhesaid.MohamedaLiberalDemocratlocalcandidatewhostoodfortheBruceGrovewardinHaringeytoldOBVNewsthathewasinspiredtoenterpoliticsbythesuccessofBarackObamaintheUnitedStates.Headdedx1cIthinkthereisachangebythecommunitytogetmoreinvolvedandthatisduetotheelectionofObama.Hiselectioncreatedhopearoundtheworldandshowedthatthereisreallyachanceforeverybodytoachievewhattheywanttoachieve.x1dAlackofrepresentationfromhiscommunitywasalsoadecidingfactor.Heexplainedx1cInHaringeywherethemajorityofthepeopleareBlackyouseeveryfewBlackcouncillors.InthewardfromparticipatinginBritishpoliticsx1dexplainedSaynabMahamudoftheSomaliFamilySupportGroup.x1cTheSomalicommunityfacesevenmoreacutedifcultiesanddifferentchallengestotheonesofotherBMEcommunities.ForexampleintheareasofBethnalGreenandBowinLondonthehighestlevelofpovertyisamongsttheSomalicommunity.x1dWhilsttheEastAfricancommunityx19spublicpoliticalparticipationmaybenewtheyunsurprisinglysharecommonissuesofconcernwithotherBMEcommunities.x1cIdonx19tthinkthatissuesfortheSomalicommunityarethatdifferentfromanyoneelsex1dexplainedSaynab.x1cWeallworryaboutourchildrenx19ssafetyandfutureemploymenteducationhealthbetterhousingandabilitytosetupbusinesses.AlargenumberofSomalisareofrefugeebackgroundsthereforeimmigrationisamainconcernfortheSomalisbutnotforthesamereasonsasthepoliticians.Somalisbelievethatasylumandimmigrationlawsareoppressiveandviolatehumanrights.Manyoftheselawspreventasylumseekersfromworkingandgivenorighttofamilyreunion.TherearestilltodaymanySomalirefugeesghtingfortherighttobereunitedwiththeirfamilies.x1dOtherissuessuchasthediscriminatoryusebythepoliceofstopandsearchpowersaswellasracialabuseandBritishinternationalforeignpolicycontinuetobemajorconcerns.SaynabbelievesthatpoliticiansandthepoliticalestablishmenthavefailedtoactivelyengagewiththeEastAfricanandparticularlytheSomalicommunity.TheirlackofvisibilitywhereIstoodnearlyeveryoneisBlackyetthecouncillorswehadwerealwayswhite.Thewardhasalsobeendeprivedforalongtime-thereisnoSomalicouncillorinthewholecouncil-Iwantedtochangeabitofthat.x1dSaynabagreedthatinorderforthecommunityx19sneedstobeaddressedtheyneededtoputitontheagenda.Sheexplainedx1cManymembersoftheSomalicommunityaregainingabetterunderstandingofthepoliticalsystemandaWesternstyleofgovernance.x1cSomebelievethatbecomingacouncillororanMPwouldallowthemtofullsomeoftheiraspirationsandinuencepolicy-makingforthebenetofall.IhaveheardmanysaythatissuesfacedbytheSomalicommunityandotherBMEswillnotbeaddressedunlessweputthemonthepoliticalagenda.x1cManyinthecommunityarekeentochallengethenegativeportrayalofpeopleofSomaliorigininBritainandhopejoiningthepoliticalsystemwillgivethemtheopportunitytodososuccessfully.OthersarekeentorepresentapositiverolemodeltotheSomaliyouth.x1dPerhapsnowhereistherecognitionoftheabilitytoinspireyoungpeoplemoreevidentthanintheelectionofBritainx19srstSomalimayorin2009.CouncillorAhmedOmerLabourBowEastistheonlySomalicouncillorinTowerHamletsandwaselectedmayorinApril2009.Hesaidofhiselectionx1cThefactthatwehavehadoneSomaliMayorIhopemeansthatithasgivenotherSomalistheambitiontojointhepoliticalworld.x1dAminaIsmailagraduateofthecouncillorshadowingschemeinLiverpoolalsobelievesthattheincreasingpoliticalactivityrepresentsagreaterawarenessofhowparticipationcanhelpthecommunityaswellasserveawidernationalinterest.IsmailaLiberalDemocratsaidx1cFrommyunderstandingandexperienceitdemonstratesanawarenessofhowpoliticalengagementcansupporttheneedsofthecommunity.x1cWehavehistoricallylookedtootherstoaddressandsupportourneedsbutthereisnowmoreofarecognitionthatwhoisbetterplacedtosupportourneedsthanthosewhoarereectiveofourcommunityx1dContactSaynabMahamudTawjeehandShaah-Iyo-SheekoCoordinatorSomaliFamilySupportGroupSFSGSaynabsfsg.org.Tel02088636262x1cManymembersoftheSomalicommunityaregainingabetterunderstandingofthepoliticalsystemSaynabMahamudTheyearthatthe6rstgenerationofEthiopianimmigrantsarrivedintheUK.1974SaynabMahamudAhmedMohamed