Somali group combats terrorism by educating youth
Nestled in an industrial part of town, Somali residents are working with youth to keep them far out of the grips of terroristic groups with a secret weapon of their own: education.
“We need to get them away from negative influences,” said Mohamed Farah, executive director of the organization Ka Joog, that exists for the sole purpose of providing education and a creative outlet for Somali youth. “And the way to get away is education.”
After seeing fellow Somali students drop out of school and lose their way, Farah, a 2001 graduate of Eden Prairie, decided to start Ka Joog in 2007, along with the help of several friends. Ka Joog is Somali for “stay away,” a message that is prevalent throughout the organization in its mission to keep youth away from groups like Al-Shabaab and ISIS, which have been known to recruit Somali youth from the Twin Cities area.
“Our purpose is to create a safe environment for our youth in our society,” Farah said. “We want to motivate our youth to take part in the civil aspects in our community and to pursue a higher education.”
Every Tuesday and Thursday evening, around 30 Somali students of all ages gather at Ka Joog’s Eden Prairie location at 6554 Edenvale Boulevard, to learn and gain a sense of purpose and belonging to combat any possible recruitment from terroristic groups.
As far as programming goes, Ka Joog isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, said Abdimalik Mohamed, education director. Youth programs include boy scouts, 4H through the University of Minnesota and mentoring programs. Two summer camps are offered each summer for boys and girls. Ka Joog also offers college visits for the older students.
“Young people come here to express themselves,” Mohamed said. “This was created to prevent youth violence, because there was no platform for young Somali people.”
Currently, the group ran by many part-time volunteers, is looking to add programs to engage parents, an important piece of the cultural puzzle for Somali immigrants.
“We need to bridge that gap (between youth and elders),” Farah said. “Some elders are physically here, but mentally back home (in Somalia).”
One of the biggest differences with Somali elders and their children is their knowledge of both cultures: American and Somali. Through the organization’s Invisible Art program, they are able to connect elders and youth through art and spoken word.
“In order for young people to grow and succeed, they need to know where they came from,” Farah said.
Another key factor that can make students susceptible to this negative recruitment is a lack of knowledge of their own faith, he said.
“This is a faith-based community and if you don’t know enough about your faith and you’re not educated enough you could fall into one of those groups,” he said.
The group, which also has locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul, has been working on international outreach by visiting refugee camps in Kenya and East Africa. They are also looking to expand to St. Cloud and Rochester. Most of the students at the Eden Prairie location are from the city, but some hail from Brooklyn Park and the nearby suburbs of Edina and Hopkins.
“Our main goal is finding what motivates individuals and impacting their lives,” Farah said. “If you get them the right mentors, they are likely going to succeed.”
Farah says many of these Somali families are hungry for success and to witness the success of their children. To many of these young Somali students America is their home, but their Somali heritage is an important piece too, something that Ka Joog is determined to preserve.
“We need to make sure this is home for the youth,” Farah said. “Somalia may be a free country some day and some people may go back, but they’re (youth) not going anywhere. We need to build future leaders.”
Contact Natalie Conrad at natalie.conrad@ecm-inc.com or follow her @EPSunCurrent.