Somali Community In The UK Presentation Baraka Youth Association Abdullahi Ali

Somali Migration To The UK The first migration of Somalis to the UK took place in the late nineteenth century as a result of Somalia’s colonial relationship with Great Britain. Sailors arriving in the UK settled in the dockland areas of Bristol, Cardiff, Hull, Liverpool and London. The current wave of Somali migration began in the 1980s with those arriving in the UK often seeking asylum as a result of the conflicts in their homeland. Home office immigration research and statistics service data reports the number of asylum applications made by those fleeing Somalia peaked in 2001/2002 with over 14,000 applications.

Areas of large Somali Communities It is estimated that at least 14% of Somalia’s population, one million people, live outside Somalia. The 2001 Census recorded 43,532 Somali born residents in the UK. This figure jumped to an estimated 101,000 in 2008, making the UK the largest Somali expatriate population in Europe. The largest concentration of Somalis in the UK live in Tower Hamlets and account for approximately 78% of Britain’s Somali residents. The community is also considered the oldest African community in London.

Employment Somali-born migrants have the lowest employment rate among all immigrants in the UK. Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show high rates of economic inactivity and unemployment amongst Somali immigrants. In the three months to June 2008, 31.4 percent of Somali men and 84.2 percent of Somali women were economically inactive (the statistics include students, carers and the long-term sick, injured or disabled in this group). Of those who were economically active, 41.4 percent of the men and 39.1 percent of the women were unemployed. Employment rates were 40.1 percent for men and 9.6 percent for women. The male employment rate has, however, risen from 21.5 percent in 1998

Business and Enterprise The Somali people have a strong tradition in trade, with a long history of maritime enterprise. Somali enterprise has also begun replacing previously Indian-dominated business premises. Southall, for example, now features several Somali-oriented restaurants and cafés Some Somali businesses with a presence in the UK, particularly in the remittance sector, already operate internationally. The latter include Dahabshiil, Qaran Express, Mustaqbal, Amal Express, Kaah Express, Hodan Global, Olympic, Amana Express, Iftin Express and Tawakal Express Dahabshiil is the largest of the Somali money transfer operators. The firm has its headquarters in London and employs more than 2000 people across 144 countries, with 130 branches in the United Kingdom alone, a further 130 branches in Somalia, and 400 branches globally.  It invests 5 percent of its profits into community projects aimed at improving schools, hospitals, agriculture and sanitation services, and sponsors a number of social events. This helps to promote understanding and cooperation through Somali art and culture and sport

Education Levels of education within the Somali community are low. A 2005 Institute for Public policy report found that 50 percent had no qualifications and 3 percent had higher-education qualifications. At school, girls generally perform better than boys. A high percentage of ethnic Somali parents in the UK send their children to supplementary schools as well as hire private teachers to help their children with their school work. Currently Somalis have one of the highest rates of going on to further education- and the Somali community have set up peer-to-peer tutoring all across major UK cities (London and Birmingham) to help young ethnic Somalis.

Education continued... Many Somali adults/parents also enroll themselves at their local colleges in order to learn English fluently to not only boost their chances of finding employment but also to help their children with their school homework. Many Somalis- who were very educated and skilled workers, have taken low skilled work in the UK because they get paid more in the UK doing low skilled work

Religious influence on education Most Somalis adhere to Islam and many ethnic Somalis have brought their religious and cultural heritage with them. One thing that Somalis have brought with them to the UK is the Duksi (Somali Islamic schools)and the young children are taught the Arabic alphabet and the language itself to help them learn The Holy Quran. Most children attend the Duksi until they become a hafiz or they have reached a certain age. Some adults may also go to a Duksi specially created to help adults memorize the Qur'an and learn about Islam.