Programs & Services > Community and Neighbourhood Development > 10th Anniversary
Community and Neighbourhood Development 10th Anniversary
Abdirahman Sabriye, Community Development Worker
We are given two ears and one mouth for a reason.
Old
Proverb common to many cultures
For Abdirahman Sabriye, Community Development Worker for Community and Neighbourhood Development (CND), listening has always been the most important aspect of the job he has had for the last 10 years at Family Service Association of Toronto. Listening is the way to discover the concerns of a community and listening is the first step in solving problems.
In working extensively with the Somali community, Sabriye has learned that one thing leads to another. "The things that you do, if you do them the right way, you find another problem that the community has," he said.
The first challenge Sabriye faced involved the school system. Without taking into account that many Somali children had gaps in their education due to the experience of war and refugee camps, the school board too quickly assessed a large number of children as learning disabled. The parents, who were incensed, thought it was discrimination. Sabriye liaised between the two sides. After four years of negotiations, the school board finally listened and agreed to give the children a year to adjust before making evaluations.
In working very closely with the parents to help them understand and effectively deal with the school system, another concern was uncovered. Within the community there were mental health issues occurring as a result of the after effect of trauma from war and refugee camps and the difficulties in adapting to a new culture without the social network of supports inherent in Somalia. Sabriye applied for and received in record time $134,000 in funding for a report on mental health issues to address the problem.
While developing the report, it was recognized that it was difficult to organize the community because of a lack of leadership. Workshops were held to identify leadership qualities to promote a stronger community unified by good guidance.
Then came the concern of youth and violence for which a forum, Youth Speak Against Violence was initiated largely by the youth themselves. All these issues and active attempts at resolution were connected and uncovered through careful listening and clear communication.
In the past, Sabriye has had to intervene in cases of miscommunication. A Somali woman, very new to Toronto, was asked about bruising on her child that she had taken to hospital. Not quite understanding the question, she explained that she had hit the child who was, to her great sorrow, taken away from her. What she meant was that she had thumped the child on the back to dislodge food that was choking her child.
Times are changing. The Somali community has responded very favourably, for example, to the approach of a high school principal in Etobicoke. He has made it a priority to keep the lines of communication open and to listen to the parents. This would seem simple but it is also powerful. Being listened to, after all, is the ultimate validation and sign of respect.
by Jane Schmidt
- Kim Hinton - CND Manager
- Michele Lupa - former CND Manager
- Deborah Konecny - Family Are Important Resources Co-ordinator
- Naga Ramalingam - CND Community Development Worker
- Abdirahman Sabriye - Community Development Worker
- Salma Sarour - former Building Bridges Co-ordinator
- Shokofeh Dilmaghani - CND Community Development Worker
- Sophia Ali - GUHD Co-ordinator
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