PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
August 16-17, 2003

Community Language and Culture Bank
Media Contact: Kayse Jama
(503) 287-4117
kayse@interculturalorganizing.org

Somali University Students Organize Nationally

On August 16 and 17, Somali Students from all over North America will convene in Minnesota to plant the seeds of an international solidarity movement. The purpose of the conference is to foster the students’ participation in social change and to give rise to an organization able to address Somali people’s common needs—in North America and abroad. The attendees plan to ratify their by-laws, and hold elections of officers some time next year.

Three the Center members—Kayse Jama, Abdullah Mohamed, and Mohamed Mohamed—will be attending the conference and assisting in the groups’ organizing efforts. “This conference will give hope to Somali Univeristy Students,” explained Jama, “Here they will be reminded of the historic role that Somali Youth played during Somalia’s independence from Italy.”

As in most revolutions, youth are often at the center. In Southern Somalia, 13 students came together and formed the Somali Youth League, which was influential in ousting the Italian colonial rule. “It is important to remind students of their historical power,” Jama said. “We want to empower Somali students by showing them the role they can play in rebuilding Somali society, here and at home.”