Several years ago the East African Youth Organization (EAYO) was formed when Somali Family Service saw significantly lacking services for refugee youth and built a partnership with the San Diego Police Department. Schools were not equipped to work with refugee youth, and parents lacked the language capacity to communicate effectively with the schools. The youth had difficulties performing academically because of years spent without education in refugee camps. Many youth were dropping out of school and facing expulsion; there was a need to encourage youth toward higher education and positive activities. Somali Family Service teamed up with a wide range of agencies to address youth violence, safety and neighborhood improvements.
Today EAYO is a very successful youth-run empowerment program for youth ages 13-18, under the supervision of adult mentors. By keeping youth actively engaged in the community, they are less likely to engage in drugs and alcohol, crime, violence and other negative activities.
EAYO has many activities including a monthly meeting at the San Diego Police Department Multicultural Storefront. There is no charge to become a member of EAYO but the youth have certain requirements. Speakers sometimes attend the meetings, serving as career mentors and educating the youth on financial literacy, gang prevention, leadership development and more. Each year EAYO holds Board of Directors elections, voting youth peers into office. The Board helps to run the monthly meetings.
We also hold field trips to Disneyland, Sea World, museums and other places, attend conferences, and host fun events from picnics to bowling outings and movie nights. In 2009 the youth not only performed Somali cultural dances for the Somali Family Service Health Fair in Honor of World Refugee Day on June 20 but took part in another major event we hold annually, a youth graduation.
The 6th Annual East African Youth Organization (EAYO) Graduation Ceremony on June 27 was supported by Ron Lacey, Community Outreach for Mayor Sanders, Travis Knowles of City Councilmember Todd Gloria's office, local principals, the Mid-City Captain and other police officials. 42 EAYO members graduated from high school and were honored with certificates in a ceremony hosted by San Diego Police Department's Multi-Cultural Community Relations Office and Somali Family Service.
The emcee Ahmed Maani graduated as the first Somali valedictorian at Crawford High School and won seven scholarships, enabling him to attend Stanford University.
Many parents accompanied their children to the event. Keynote speaker Jesse Mills, Ph.D. and Professor of Ethnic Studies at University of San Diego, encouraged the youth to pursue higher education and remain connected to their community.
Abdi Mohamoud, President and CEO of Horn of Africa Community, also spoke to the crowd. "Education has been referred to as the 'great equalizer' because it can take an ordinary person with a humble background like Bill Clinton or Barack Obama to the height of American political life," he said.
The attendees enjoyed an East African dinner and Somali and Ethiopian cultural dances by the youth. Sponsors included Price Charities, Somali Family Service, Minihaha Market and Safari Market.
