Rebuilding Somalia: The Role of the Somali Youth
Hopes are high in both the international communities and the Somalis around the world, and it’s a matter of time before Somalia is reconstructed again to the beautiful nation it once was. After the collapse of the last Somali state, Somalia entered a prolonged period of violent anarchy and warfare. This led to the destruction of all civil infrastructures, public and government institutions, and a division among the Somali people.
But recently Somalia got an international attention after the worst famine in 60 years hit the horn of Africa. Individual countries like the Turkish government and many Somalis, some of whom who have been contributing to the development of their home land begun to rebuild Somalia. In this article, I will discuss the role of the Somali youth in rebuilding their homeland: Has there been efforts by the youth? Why some have failed? And finally, I propose some strategies for the youth which they can help in rebuilding their home land.
Youth are that powerful resource that can destruct a whole nation, a good example is what has been going on in Somalia, where young men are armed to fight for their tribes. But the youth are also a powerful resource that can construct a whole nation and this is what Somalia needs now. The youth can change the future of their nation with their good intention and courageous behavior.
Efforts by Somali youth
The Somali youth have involved in so many ways in the development and peace building processes of Somalia. Currently, there are thousands of organizations led by young Somalis in the Diaspora and in Somalia whose objectives include making Somalia appear in the world stage again and to better the lives of their fellow Somalis.
One of these organizations is Worldwide Somali Students and Professionals (WSSP) which is “a global movement that exists to mobilize young Somalis to use their talents, work together and address the unmet needs of a proud nation.” This movement has inspired thousands of young Somalis, and is mobilizing up to “a 1000 talented and committed Somali youth to go back to Somalia in this summer to bring about tangible changes on the ground in the areas of agriculture, education and health.” Among the members of WSSP are medical doctors, engineers and software developers.
Why some efforts by the youth have failed?
Most youth efforts that have failed had at least three things in common: lack of leadership skills, no internal communication and cooperation, personal interest within the organization, and some have failed because of lack of resources.
Some strategies for the youth
I still consider myself a youth, so as Somali youths we need first to get education especially for those of us who have access to it and try to earn more from work. Secondly, we need to develop a relation among the young Somalis around the world. After achieving the first two then, we can successfully contribute in the development and rebuilding of our homeland. In brief the three simple ways to successfully develop our country are:
- Development in the youth: Youth must get education especially those who have access to it. If you’re going to school, stay in the school and finish it. If you’re not going to school, start today and stay until you finish it. It’s important that the older youths mentor those who are still in school or facing hardships in their lives. The youth must also create an economic success in the community they live in no matter what country it is.
- Development through the youth: We need to create relation among us by reaching out to those who learned and to those who are less fortunate. We need to fight the tribalism since it’s one of the root causes of our problems; and create a relation among us that has nothing to do with the Qabil system (tribe system).
- Development by the youth: After getting education, earning from work and creating a relation among us we can then build a network of young Somalis who are ready to transform our nation. We will be able to rebuild all the institutions, and improve the lives our people. In this process, it’s important the elders coach the youth as they build this network.
In conclusion, we are all aware of the destruction in our country and the division in our people. As youths, we need to fulfill our role in bringing our people together and rebuilding our nation. Off course this is not gonna happen if we don’t educate ourselves, this is not gonna happen if we don’t earn from work, this is not gonna happen if we don’t create a relation among us and stop the Qabil system, and certainly this is not gonna happen if we are not united and have common goals.
I hope we all understand that our country is waiting for us, and it’s us (not the foreigners) who can rebuild it if we use the right tools.
Yusuf Abudi is a student in the department of science at Bellevue College, Washington. Yusuf is also a tutor/mentor at Somali Community Services Coalition in Tukwila, Washington. He volunteers as a community outreach activist for CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations), Washington chapter.
BY Yusuf Abudi