May 26th, 2010
Canadian Somali Congress President interviewed by Nil Koksal of
CBC News as part of a television series entitled "Canadian Dream."
Canadian Somali Congress President interviewed by Nil Koksal of
CBC News as part of a television series entitled "Canadian Dream." The
series examines the successes and challenges that face different
communities in Canada. This particular segment centered on the
successes and challenges of the Canadian Somali community. The vast
majority of Somalis in Canada are no longer immigrants but are Canadian
citizens. Despite this fact, various levels of government and the
mainstream community mistakenly continue to view Canadian Somalis as
immigrants or recently-arrived refugees. This is evidenced by the fact
that emphasis is placed on immigrant settlement services and language
programs for a community that settled in this country decades ago. The
real need of the community is integration into the Canadian mainstream.
This can be achieved by a policy shift that emphasizes access to jobs
and professions. Nowhere is this shift more needed than in Alberta
where 30 young Canadian Somalis have been killed in the last 5 years.
Despite the high number of deaths in Alberta, Ahmed Hussen noted that
the vast majority of Canadian Somali youth are law abiding and
productive citizens who are graduating from post-secondary institutions
in record numbers.
Click here to watch
May 25th, 2010
Canadian Somali-Jewish Mentorship Project off to a great start in Ottawa
Over a hundred members
of the Ottawa Somali community braved a rainstorm on the evening of
Saturday, May 8th, 2010 to attend an information and registration
session at Carlton University's Minto Center. The Canadian
International
Peace Project and the Canadian Somali Congress invited potential mentees
from
the Somali community in Ottawa to be part of a groundbreaking mentorship
project that started in Toronto between the Canadian Jewish and Somali
communities. Given the
great interest
in the project, mentors will also be recruited from outside
the Ottawa Jewish community to cope with the large numbers of
Canadian Somali college and university students as well as young
professionals
requesting matches with mentors.
Ahmed Hussen, National
President of the Canadian Somali Congress stressed the importance of
this
project in assisting to develop the first cadre of young Canadian Somali
professionals and leaders who will in turn reach back into other
communities to
help those in need. This project builds on the groundbreaking work
already
being done between the Jewish and Somali communities in Ottawa by Mark
Zarecki,
Executive Director of the Jewish Family Services and members of the
Ottawa Somali
community. The Jewish-Somali Mentorship Project not only assists in
the integration of the largest African diaspora community in Canada but
also acts as a model of how diverse communities can collaborate to
promote
greater social cohesion between diverse communities both in Canada and
in the
international community.
May 4th, 2010
CBC radio interviews Ahmed Hussen, national president of Canadian
Somali Congress about the Canadian Somali-Jewish Mentorship Project
launch in Ottawa
The internship program will help young Somali college and
university students as well as young professionals to find mentors in
desired proefessions. Those individuals that are interested in joining
this initiative will be matched with mentors from the Canadian Jewish
community who will assist them in successfully pursuing their respective
professions. If you missed the event please email Canadian Somali Congress to register for the internship event.
Click here to watch
April 11th, 2010
Canadian Somali Congress National President Ahmed Hussen talks
about Alberta's failure to fully integrate young Canadian Somalis
Ahmed Hussen spoke about the fact that the vast majority of
Somalis in Canada have either been born in this country or have lived
here for decades and as such, cannot be accurately classified as
immigrants or newcomers. Due to this fact, the Canadian Somali
community does not need more immigrant settlement services. What is
desperately needed is for policy makers to shift their perception of
this community and see them as Canadian citizens with rights and
responsibilities.
Click here to watch
December 9th, 2009
Canadian Somali Congress press conference with Alberta media
on the issue of the death of 27 young Somali men since 2005
There
has been a recent increase in the amount of homicide of young Somali
Men. Ahmed Hussen discusses the reasons why these problems are
president in Alberta.
Click here to listen
November 28th, 2009
CSC comments on the Amanda Lindhout case and the
possible disappearance of Canadian Somali youth
Canadian Somali Congress comments on the Amanda Lindhout case,
the possible disappearance of Canadian Somali youth, and the general
state of affairs in Somalia.
Click here to listen
August 21, 2009
Ottawa launches probe into case of marooned women: Suad Mohamoud back home after spending three months stranded in Kenya
Canadian Somali Congress calls for Government investigation of the
Canadian High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya. This proposed
investigation will shed light on the cases of stranded Canadian Somalis
like Abdihakim Mohamed. The recommendations emanating from this
investigation will hopefully put mechanisms in place to ensure that such
cases will never happen again
Click here to watch
Canadian Somali Congress oo dawlada Kanada ka codsatay in
baaritaan lagu furo safaarada Kanada oo fadhido magaalada Nairobi ee
dalka Kenya. Barnaamijkaan waxaa soo daayey CTV News.
Reex halkaan sida at ofirsito
August 19, 2009
CBC News: Today interviews Ahmed Hussen about Maersk Alabama hijacking
CBC News Today program interviews Ahmed Hussen, the national
president of the Canadian Somali Congress about the reasons why pirates are attacking ships off the coast of Somalia.The Maersk Alabama Hijacking was
a series of events involving piracy that began with four Somali pirates
seizing the cargo ship Maersk Alabama 440 km southeast of the
Somalia port city of Eyl.
Click here to watch
Canadian Somali Congress President Published in the Ottawa Citizen
November 29th, 2008
Foreign
navies are not likely to be able to completely eradicate pirate attacks
off the coast of Somalia -- such as the audacious capture of a Saudi
supertanker -- making it even more important for the world to stabilize
a country that has experienced 17 years of
Click here to read rest of the article
CANADIAN SOMALI CONGRESS AND CANADIAN SOMALI LEADERS MEET WITH PRIME MINISTER ON PARLIAMENT HILL
December 6th, 2007
The
Canadian Somali Congress, the national advocacy organization for the
Canadian Somali community, along with community leaders from the
Canadian Somali community, held the first ever Canadian-Somali national
lobby day on Wednesday, December 5th, 2007 on Parliament Hill. The
delegation, was led by the National President of the Canadian
Somali Congress, Mr. Ahmed Hussen, and included community
representatives from Ottawa and Toronto as well as the Legal
Counsel to the Canadian Somali Congress, Mr. James Morton, and
Honourary Patrons of the Canadian Somali Congress, Professor Ed
Morgan and Mark Persaud
National President Ahmed Hussen with the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada
"This
was an extremely important and historic day for Canadians of Somali
heritage" stated National President Ahmed Hussen. "It marks the
first ever organized national lobby day on issues of importance to
the Canadian-Somali community and we were able to discuss a number of
matters with Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament and senior
government officials. We were especially thrilled to spend
some time with the Prime Minister of Canada and very pleased with the
attention, interest and respect that we were accorded by the Prime
Minister. The Prime Minister was well informed on the situation in
Somalia and he discussed those developments with the delegation."
Mr. Hussen further stated that Minister Jason Kenney has earned the
admiration and respect of the Canadian Somali community for his
tireless efforts on behalf of the community.
Among
the issues discussed, were more support for the further
integration of Canadian Somalis, immigration and consular matters,
humanitarian aid to Somalia and the appointment of a Canadian Special
Envoy to Somalia. Meetings were held with The Honourable Bev Oda,
Minister of International Cooperation and Minister responsible for the
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA); Minister Jason
Kenney, Secretary of State for Multiculturalism; Kevin
Sorenson, Member of Parliament and Chair of the House of Commons
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs; and senior officials from the
Department of Foreign Affairs.
The lobby day was followed by a reception for the delegation hosted by the Canadian Jewish Congress in Ottawa.
For further information, contact:
Ebyan Farah
Director of Communications
Canadian Somali Congress
Tel: 416.206.6760
e-mail: ebyanf@gmail.com
Canadian Somali Congress offers a different perspective on piracy off the Somali Coast
Canadian Somali Congress National President Ahmed Hussen speaks with BNN about piracy off the coast of Somalia |
|
