In response to the growth of awareness of a number of issues arising from young Somali's in Tower Hamlets and in recognition of young people's own demands BWHAFS has established a number of projects geared specifically towards working with Somali young people. The aim of these has been to facilitate the integration of Somali young people into mainstream society thus reducing their marginalisation and isolation.

Work with young people commenced in 1989 when funding was received from Tower Hamlets Health Promotion and LDDC (London Docklands Development Fund) to hire a Somali Youth Worker.

The role of the Somali Youth worker was initially comparable to that of the Outreach and Development worker. Workshops were run and information distributed in order to raise awareness of the health issues affecting this group. Networks and contacts were formed with other organisations working with young Somalis, in order to share information and give advice.

In early 1994 BWHAFS initiated a research project called the 'Qualitative Health Care Needs Assessment Project For the Somali Young People in Bethnal Green Neighbourhood'. The project was funded by the Bethnal Green City Challenge Community Fund and research was conducted by Dr. Ismail Hussein of the Health Strategy Group and Mohamed Ismail, a Somali Youth Support Worker. The report concluded that:

'It is essential to recognise that there exists a pool of potential youth organisations within the community and that they are independently trying to develop strategies to inform the authorities, planners and work in partnership with existing statutory bodies for the long term benefit of young people. This can only be effective if authorities are aware and willing for this style of working to be pushed.

Acknowledgment needs to be given to some of the community health initiatives which could be developed. Which could enhance further collaborative work between the statutory sectors and the community. In the long term this will produce a health system which is appropriate for Somali young people who make up the local population and for whom the district health services exist.'

As the work with young people expanded, it was decided that a project working specifically with young girls was needed. BWHAFS currently runs the Xannaano Young Girls Project and the Somali Youth Development Project. Included are reports for both.

A recent report produced by Tower Hamlets Local Education Authority revealed that Somali students have the lowest average levels of attainment of all ethnic groups in the borough. Low achievement can generate further problems for young Somalis. These include:
- demotivation
- truancy from school
- disruptive behaviour
- exclusion from school
- criminalisation

There are several reasons for this low achievement:

- The political situation in Somalia
The civil war has left many young people with identity crises as the Somali nation has split into clans, factions and into smaller states with no clear definitions or identity. People have been forced to flee their country and settle in parts of the world that are alien to them, thereby losing their familiar networks and cultural setting. Children often arrive into the UK with little or no formal schooling and find a disparity between home and school cultures.

- Hostile environment upon arrival, racial intolerence
In Tower Hamlets Somalis suffer not only from black/white racism, they are also targeted by Bengalis. Refugee children may be more vulnerable to racism. Bullying is a reality in schools, and here too refugee children, particularly those who have newly arrived and speak little English, are most likely to suffer. Isolation is a common prerequisite to these issues.

- The English education system
This may not meet the needs of Somali children: the curriculum may not be appropriate. Young Somalis, for example, may not feel at ease when asked to write their life stories. Inappropriate induction programmes and lack of support in some schools are obstacles to their educational progress.

Many young people after leaving, or sometimes while in school, fall out of the system and become isolated from mainstream society. They often remain unemployed and do not have access to information that can enable them to learn the necessary skills to gain employment. Many have remained on the dole for too long and do not how to improve their situation. Living in extreme poverty with the added responsibility of demands made by their families back home has left many of them in a poor state of health. A considerable proportion of this group of people becomes mentally ill. Their relations often care for them and this has a knock-on effect on other members of the family. A significant number of suicides have been reported over the last few years and the number seems to be on the increase. Somalis do not make use of the available services either because they do not know how to access such services or are unaware they exist.

In May 1998 the Somali Project for Education & Training Project (SOMPET) came into existence following a lottery bid by BWHAFS. The aim of this project was to tackle the unprecedented number of school exclusions by working in collaboration with schools and the community.

In February 2002, following the end of the SOMPET project the year before and a successful funding proposal to the Children's Fund, the Knowledge Is Power Project (KIPP) was established. Like SOMPET this project has taken the initiative to work with students, parents, schools and other relevant agencies to try and bridge the gaps and misunderstandings between these groups.