Program helps group assimilate
By Christopher Hall • Special to The Courier-Journal
Saturday, April 19, 2008
But the transition can be especially difficult for immigrants from an impoverished and chaotic country like Somalia. Many have never been in a formal educational setting, but they need to learn a new language and job skills.
In November, Catholic Charities of Louisville started a program specifically for Louisville's Somali Bantu population, providing classes in English and helping them with job skills, nutrition and mental health. The Bantu are a minority ethnic population in Somalia.
Program coordinator Hassan Muya, a Somali who's been living in Louisville for about four years, said the program has helped participants, most of whom lived as farmers and have no experience in operating machinery, get production jobs.
He said about 10 have been placed in jobs since the program started, and "they're all doing good."
About 40 Bantu have been taking part in the program, Muya said. He estimated there are about 1,600 Bantu living in Louisville.
The program is funded by a $200,000 grant to Catholic Charities from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement.
The classes are held at the agency's English Language School on Crums Lane in Shively, in the old St. Helen Catholic School building.
"It is very good that we are learning a lot of things that we didn't know before and we are getting it and we enjoy it," program participant Fatima Adan, who's been in Louisville for about eight months, said through a translator.
Earlier this week, two English as a Second Language (ESL) instructors from Jefferson County Public Schools, Helena Falcon Ramos and Stephanie Clemans, worked with participants on the concept of a calendar.
Falcon Ramos said the program is "excellent" for helping a group that was getting lost when interspersed with other immigrant groups.
"This group has certain needs that other groups may not have, and sometimes they can fall though the cracks. This way it gives us a chance to focus on them and focus on their particular needs," she said.
During a break in the class, many of the students told Muya they were eager to find work.
"They're all hoping to find a job," said Clemans. "So … we need more employers who are willing take a chance on someone who might look a little bit different or maybe not speak perfect English -- but will work hard."
Source: Courier-Journal, April 19, 2008