by Ibrahim AbdulkadirFriday, January 02, 2009
Boston, MA (HOL) - Hundreds of students, parents and community leaders attended the 2nd semiannual conference of Islamic students of New England held over the weekend at Roxbury's Tobin Community Center. The conference, a well-organized one, has attracted large numbers of Somalis from across states in New England, including Maine and Massachusetts.
The six hours symposium-like conference titled "Preparing our youth for the challenges they face" has focused on social issues, educational contest between students of different states, debates and lectures that captivated the students for hours.
Ahmed Ibrahim, 19, a college student from Lewiston, Maine, attended the conference for the first time. "I enjoyed the lectures, benefited a lot from the various perspectives and issues discussed" said Ibrahim, whose friend Abdiwahid Ahmed, sitting next to him, shared the same observation.
The event featured many speakers known in the Somali community, including Sh. Tawakal Yusuf of Boston, and Sh. Mohamud Garyare of Portland who entertained the crowd with his remarkable prose and humorous verses, addressing the Somali youth in general.
Abdishukri Farah is a senior at Boston International in Jamaica Plain. Quiet in his demeanor, Farah was moved by the series of speeches, especially that which described the attributions of the student of knowledge. "My goal is to become a doctor", he said with a confidence beaming from his face. He added that the presentations were "reaffirming" his ambitions and that pursuing a career in medicine remains a top priority.
The conference organizers, though young and some at their teens, had one thing in mind: to share their experiences by creating a network that promotes spiritual values,
A contest about the history of Somalia that divided the crowded hall into three cities, Boston, Lewiston and Portland, would generate strong loyalties from the audience. However, as a host, Boston was fortunate to have won the last contest, but it made Portland a formidable challenger this time when they emerged victorious over Boston and Lewiston with resounding points. Disappointed with the outcome, Abdullahi Yasin, 15, of Boston, complained about the difficulty questions posed to contesters from his hometown.
The two-day event has garnered an appreciation from the community. It served free lunches and dinner to all. In the meantime, the organizers accommodated free child-care services for families during the six hours course of the event. "The kids inspired us with their vision and energy that put together such an event," said Sahra who has taken off from her work to attend the event.
Given the agony and hardships faced by those in Somalia, these youth appeared so busy in bringing about positive changes in their respective communities, asserting proactive approaches and leadership to overcome the challenges.
Ibrahim Abdulkadir, HOL
Boston, MA