The Star
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Two little ones pile building blocks and squeal with delight when the tower comes tumbling down. Another spins the wheels of a toy car, laughing as it zooms across the table.
It's a warm, fuzzy place to be on a chilly morning. There's something to the Somali saying that the sound of children's laughter is a blessing.
At one end of the room, a group of women sit chatting. They've come to discuss the importance of reading with their children. Back home, oral tradition and story-telling, rather than reading, were the norm.
It's just one of the cultural differences Zahra Ahmed faced when she arrived in Canada in 1993. From the clothing she wore to the way she raised her children – everything was different. "A lot of people have culture shock when they arrive," she said.
Ahmed settled in Weston, home to one of Toronto's largest Somali communities. "It seems like it belongs to us," the 36-year-old mother of four said with a smile.
She may never have felt at home if not for Daryeelka Qoyska, a 10-week Somali outreach and educational program. The aim is to strengthen relationships between mothers and their children, improve parenting and communication skills and make connections in the community.
"We teach each other about being Canadian," said Ahmed.
It all goes back to life in Somalia, where it took a village to raise a child. Parents, extended families and neighbours pitched in.
"The program helped me so much," said Ahmed. She became involved in her children's education – something not done back home.
The program is run by Yorktown Family Services, an agency providing mental health treatment, prevention and outreach services to children, youth, women and families in the former City of York. It also runs a shelter for abused women and their children.
The program is also showing newcomers they're not alone, said co-ordinator Amina Warfa.
"But this wouldn't be possible if not for the United Way," Warfa said of the agency which helps fund the program.
SOURCE: The Star, Thursday, December 18, 2008