| Older Women's Project |
| |
Background
The Somali Older Women's Project was set up as a response to the number of older women coming into the centre; requesting assistance, counselling or simply company. The purpose of this project was to bring together elderly women, to give them a voice, to counter their isolation.
On arrival in this country many older Somali refugees lose their sense of identity. They arrive traumatised by war and become alienated in a new culture. For them adaptation often comes hardest. The crucial role they play in Somali culture becomes redundant on arrival into Britain: elders in traditional Somali culture hold a pivotal role.
They are highly valued and respected as a 'database' or 'wealth of knowledge'. It is they who have an invaluable collection of memories both from their own lifetime and from previous generations. Through conversations and storytelling, elders pass ancestral and historical information down the generations. The crucial role storytelling has played in the maintenance of Somali culture and access to historical knowledge is made apparent when we take note that the Somali language was only given a written form in 1970. Elders also arbitrate in conflict situations and often act as a 'privy council'.
On arrival in Britain this role in the centre of Somali family and social life is lost, leaving elderly people feeling isolated and marginalized.
Image: Two older Somali women
|
| |
The Project |
The project emphasises the importance of respect for the elderly, creates a space for their interaction with young people, and provides them with a basic education.
The activites of this project include:
- English language classes
- A drop-in service
- A luncheon club, with a cooked meal twice a week
The BWHAFS also provides group-counselling sessions for refugee women. The aim of these is to get women to open up and share their trauma, pain and anxieties in a comfortable, friendly environment in order to counter their feelings of isolation. With a holistic approach in mind, part of the programme includes ESOL classes.
In one particular session women were asked to write of their experience of the civil war and of being a refugee.
|
| |
The following short poems are written by women of the counselling group. |
| |
| |
My Story in Somaliland
I was afraid.
My house was broken.
My 4 houses broken.
Everybody ran.
I slept outside 2 weeks.
In Somalia fighting.
I went to Ethiopia 4 weeks.
I went to London.
I am in London 4 years.
|
|
|
| |
| |
The War in Somaliland
I was tired because everybody ran.
I walked for 6 days,
Because my country was civil war.
I was afraid
Because my brother was dead.
I was sad
Because of the fighting in my Somalia.
I came to England
I am happy now.
|
|
|
| |
| |
My story
In Somalia fighting
My house was broken.
I was hungry
Food was finished.
My children hungry.
My baby on my shoulder,
I walked 2 days.
|
|
|
| |
| |
My Story in Somalia
My house was broken.
Everybody ran.
My baby was on my shoulder.
I was worried.
My children ran, afraid.
Everybody was sad.
I came to Ethiopia.
I slept outside.
I came to London.
I was worried.
|
|
|
| |
| |
My story
In Somalia fighting.
My house was broken.
I was afraid.
I was tired
I walked 7 days.
|
|
|
| |
| |
Somalia
Everybody's house was broken.
Everybody was worried.
Everybody was sad
And came to Ethiopia.
Everybody ran
Everybody slept outside.
Everybody walked a lot of days.
Everybody came to London
And was a little happy.
|
|
|
| |
| |
My story
In Somalia fighting.
My house was broken.
I ran.
I was worried.
I was tired.
My baby, no food, no drink.
I slept outside.
I walked 7 days.
I came to Ethiopia.
|
|
Link to:
Counselling
Somali history
Other Stories:
Hibo's Story
Stories written by children of KIPP
Somali Folk Tales
|
| |
Top
|
