gu booklet magazine online

8/9/2019 GU Booklet Magazine Online

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f r o m

gashantimessag e

We are celebrating a new decade and along with it, three years of growth andbuilding our capacity as an organization and as leaders in our community. Weveevolved from our early days generating ideas at the kitchen table to playing a vitalrole in Torontos youth community. Our goal has been to provide opportunitiesto enhance personal growth, autonomy and empowerment for girls and youngwomen so that they can achieve fulllment and maximize their potential. Our mostrecent endeavor, the rst annual Gashanti UNITY forum Igniting The Flame isone way we are making this happen.

Our approach is marked by positivity and inclusiveness. We take pride in bringingtogether people with unique ideas and competing views. Our hope is to cultivatean environment where everyone can engage in thoughtful and exciting dialoguewith the belief that diversity can only strengthen our existing bonds. For thoseof you who are familiar with our work and have supported our initiatives we say

Thank You, and to those of you who are just getting to know us, Welcome.

It has been our greatest privilege to get to know you all. Some of our warmest andmost humorous memories are the times weve spent with all of you at Shah andSheeko, barbeques, potlucks and road trips. Our various projects throughout thecity have taken us from Bay Mills to Islington, and many of you have invited us intoyour homes and neighbourhoods in a way that is characteristically Somali, withopenness and good will. For this we will always be grateful. A special thank yougoes out to all the volunteers, focus group participants, moms and dads, schools,

community centres, funders and trustees who continue to support our vision.

We would like to invite you to visit our website at www.gashantiunity.ca and nd outhow you can get involved. Were also on Facebook and Twitter so stay tuned!

As we continue to grow we ask that you remain with us, guiding us, and sharingwith us decades into the future.

Best wishes and deepest gratitude,

Gashanti UNITY


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agenda

GASHANTI UNITY FORUMIGNITING THE FLAMEA FORUM TO ENGAGE YOUNG MINDS

10am Registration

11am Gashanti UNITY PresentationsKeynote: Deqa Farah

Community Panel

1pm Lunch

2pm Afternoon Workshops

4pm Workshop Regroup

5pm Close/Buses Depart from Gardens


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KeYnOTeDeqa Farah is a Community Mental Health Consultant with Community Resources

Consultants of Toronto. She has extensive work and volunteer background in

access, equity, social justice issues, antiracism and cultural competence and

organizational change. She is a community organizer, researcher, trainer,

and facili tator.

Deqa has been working with refugees and immigrants in over the past ten years

in the areas of: counseling, crisis intervention, organization and facilitation of

support groups as well as program co-ordination, research, planning and

evaluation, board development program and leadership building. She has

been involved in training staff at Refugee and Immigrant Service agencies and

mental health agencies. She has made numerous presentations locally

nationally and internationally.

Deqa has extensive experience in creating and maintaining partnerships. She

worked with groups and organizations in the area of program development,

funding proposals, board development, improving service delivery, organizing

forums and conferences and coalition and team building. She received BA,

honours degree from the University of Toronto in Environmental Studies and

Sociology.


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paneLISTSFrdOwSa abdI is a rst year Seneca college student andcommunity activist. She currently works in the Islington-St.Andrewsand Rexdale communities as a Toronto Community Housing Corporationyouth worker and mentor. Growing up in this area Frdowsa experiencedinequities rst hand and started her work as an advocate for young womenin response to her own experiences. She is currently leading a new youthgroup called Shandayce to formalize the work she already does in thiscommunity.

FaTIma HuSSeIn is a registered nurse and a Masters degreeholder. Fatima divides her time between her family, community work, andeducation. She works in the area of mental health with the CanadianMental Health Association.

SamIYa abd I has experience working in the areas of healthpromotion, community development, youth engagement, programplanning, evaluation and Community Based Research. Samiya hasheld many Managerial positions as well as front line work in thepublic health field. As a community activist Samiya is the cofounderof Aspire 2 Lead, a program that focuses on the academic successand community engagement of East African youth. Currently Samiyais completing her Masters in public health with a research focus on

Global Health. She is a founding member of Project Raajo, an initiativethat aims to organize health care and human resources in the global souththrough greater participation from the Diaspora communities.

Id IL Omar is currently going into her 4th year of the Arts andContemporary Studies program at Ryerson University. She ardentlychose to major in Culture and Entertainment; however, she also foundfelicity in her Sociology minor. Idil is an extremely active student in

Ryerson Universitys campus life: she helped organize Ryersons 2009orientation week as well as the students union week of welcome 2009.She is also a choreographer and avid dancer and has recently beenelected as the President of the United Hip Hop Student Union at Ryerson.Idil believes that self-expression is the greatest form of community activismand engagement


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wOrKSHOpwOrKSHOp #1On mY bLOcKWe know that healthy neighborhoods contribute to healthy and safecommunities. Given this, this workshop is designed to examine therelationship between person, place, and time. Physical environment

has been designated as a key social determinant of health by the WorldHealth Organization and as such the workshop hopes to bring to light keyissues affecting youth living in and around Toronto Community Housingand/or priority neighborhoods.

Facilitated by: Arsema Berhane from Toronto Community Housing andEritrean Youth Coalition

wOrKSHOp #2can we TaLK FOr a mInuTe This workshop is a unique look at basic human communication, whetherits verbal or non-verbal, between friends and family. This workshop usesrole-play and drama to demonstrate scenarios we face in everyday lifeand how to communicate and successfully navigate our social domain.

Facilitated by: Habibah Ahmad from Project Muslimah.

wOrKSHOp #3IndIvIduaLITY In THe age OF maSS medIaThis workshop is a critical look at individualism and conformity in the ageof Facebook and Twitter. It encourages participants to examine and denetheir beliefs about self and society through activities that challenge youthto step outside their comfort zone. This workshop aims to put a mirror tothe face of youth culture.

Facilitated by: Gashanti UNITY; Muna Ali and Muna Aden


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Thank yo ut a snss


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BY GASHANT I


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tableo f

c o ntents


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How Gashant i and Ift i in Came Together

ExprESSIoNSNameless (Ift i in Participant age 16)I wi l l Cont inue ( Ift i in Part icipant 15)

CulTurERespect A l l rel ig ions ( Ift i in Part icipant age 16)

ENTErTAINmENT

Tunes To Take In Gashantis top 10 Somali and RnB songs

lIfESTYlENaseeha (love thy self)

Word upBook Review: The Lovely Bones & Twi l ight Saga

if t iin mag azine by gashant i


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Iftiin Magazine was started by two Somali young women who got together andwanted to contribute to their community in a positive way. The main concept ofthe magazine was centered on positive cultural representation which manifesteditself into the launching of a magazine geared towards young Somali girls livingin the Jamestown Community. In our experience Somali girls were seldomgiven the opportunities to express themselves creatively especially in the formof creative writing. The writers group was organized in order to address this gap. It

was our hope that the magazine would give these young girls the opportunity andspace to learn about themselves and talk about issues, stories, and their variedinterests such as fashion, literature, and lm. Throughout the project the youngwomen involved invited selected writers and patrons of Somali art and literaturefrom their community to engage in creative and informative discussions onSomali literature. A highlight of this included the contribution of a young Somalipoet who talked about her experiences and the importance of story telling withinthe communityparticipants were particularly moved by the similarity of theiridentity and background with the poet as well as the similarity of their writing

aesthetic. It was through this collaborative learning process that The Iftiin girlsinvited Gashanti UNITY to one of their workshops. Both groups identied keyareas where support and collaboration were needed and decided to merge inorder to reach a wider audience. The recent development and presentation of theIftiin magazine celebrates the partnership and solidarity of all the young womenwho have contributed to the Gashanti UNITY movement.

Best wishes,

The Gashanti Team

Ho w

gashanti&iftiincame together

eessins

iti in agazine


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Another minute passes by and I regret not

telling you how I really feel.

But whats the point?Do you really even care?

Youve had my heart for the longest time, and you

probably dont even know it.

I remember the day when I frst laid eyes on you, little

did I know that was the day that would change my life.

Whenever I see you around my world just freezes, and

I cant get words to come out of my mouth.. see what

you do to me?

You make me weak.You see me as just another girl, when I see you as one

of the most important things in my life.

When will the pain fnally go away?

I need you more than ever now, but it hurts knowing

that youll never be there for me.

I tell myself to let you go.. so why cant I?

I pretty much make my friends go crazy talking about

you.. when you probably dont even know anything

about me.

I have to admit, I made some mistakes that probably

left you thinking I was strange.. but

thats only because I have no control over my feel-

ings for you.

Whenever I try, nothing comes out right.

I cant even count how many times Ive cried for you.

Hiding my tears so no one would notice.

To everyone else I may seem happy, but the smile on

my face is just there to fool the world.

Nothing can describe how I truly feel inside.How many times do I have to go through the

heartache?

I wish I could tell you how I feel, but I dont know how

you would react.

I just want to get to know you..

Better yet, I dont want a conversation I just want to sit

and stare at you.

nameless


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Looking into your eyes and actually feeling like I

belong with you.

Youve taken over my heart.I cant even move on.. because every time I try it

somehow always comes back to you.

How I see you, is different than how everyone else

sees you.

Youve gone from being unknown, to one of the most

talked about topics.

Every time your name is mentioned, my heart hurts.

It hurts a lot knowing that Ive noticed you since way

before any of the people that talk to you now did.

They dont see you the way I do.

All the girls that talk to you now, where were they back

then.. when you were undiscovered?

Why?

Why do you have to hide?

Why do you have to listen to all the lies?

Why cant you just open up to me, and let me inside?

The person you see me as is what your friends say..

Its time to get your own opinion.

The least you could do is tell me the truth.

Thats all I want to know.

Why cant you just be straight up?

Im sick of wondering, dreaming of what could be.

Im done lying to myself.. youre the only one I really

want.

Whenever I see you smile, it warms me up but kills me

at the same time.

I want to be the one to put that gorgeous smile on your

face.A lot is changing now-a-days.. but it seems as though

my feelings for you are everlasting.

Im not going to say who you are.. hopefully youll

read this and realize the truth. Until then.. youll remain

nameless.

n

ameless(cont)

(Iftiin Participant age 16)

eessins


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I will continue,Speaking, walking, hearing.

I will continue,Disagreeing, listening, and volunteering.

I will continue,Trying to live at ease.

I will continue,

Searching for inner peace.

I will continue,Nurturing love and care.

I will continue,Giving all I can spare.

I will continue,To teach all that I have learnt.

I will continue,Helping those in needs.

I will continue,Being honest, hardworking and trusting.

I will continue,Believing in myself and never giving up.

I will continueUntil god allows no continuation.

(Iftiin Participant 15)

i will continue

eessins


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Everybody has a basic idea about what a religion is, but does anyone knowthe actual denition?

Everyone is aware that majority of the time religion involves one God ordifferent forms of one God depending on what you believe in. A religiondefines who you are, shapes your life and the course it will take. The actualmeaning of religion is a strong belief in a higher power that put us on earth fora reason, a test. Those who pass the test are awarded with Heaven and thosewho fail are punished.

Every person has a religion; in a sense even those who dont believe in God havea religion. To have a religion is to believe in something. Those who dont

have a religion believe in science. They believe that humans came to be fromprimates, while others believe that God put us on Earth. They believe that Earthwas created from the big bang; we believe that God made the universe andthen the world in seven days. No matter what we call the One who gave us life,every religion has the same base; dont lie, dont steal, respect others and dontcause anybody any harm. If a basic part of every religion is to respect others, isntdisrespecting anothers religion wrong?

Some respect religions, even if it is different from their own. Some are tolerant

of other religions and others are just prejudice. Which one are you?

To answer this question, its important to know what each means. To respecta religion is to view it with esteem, to think positively about it and to try andunderstand it. To tolerate a religion is when you dont say anything badout loud but think negative thoughts about it inside. Given the chance, you wouldchange it (by trying to convert the person). To be prejudice about a religion isto look down on it without bothering to nd out about it, to judge what someonebelieves in without reason.

Some religions believing in fasting for God, people of other religions dontunderstand the logic behind not eating. Some religions prohibit certainthings; people of other belief dont understand why you cant eat pork. Somereligions worship more than ten Gods, others worship through humans, and somebelieve in the One and only. All differences aside, religion for everyone is a veryserious matter. Its not something you do for a fashion statement, to impress yourparents or to t in better with your friends.

respect all religions


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Its not just people of other beliefs that disrespect religions, people can disrespecttheir own religion. A form of respecting ones religion is to actually believe in it,

not to wear a hijab just because your parents bother you about it, fast becauseyour friends are doing it or go to church because theres a lot of drama. This isntrespect or belief. The only time you get credit for doing something towards youreligion is when you do it because you want to. Being a follower gets younowhere; you look like a fool in others eyes and put your religion down. Youknow that youre doing something from your heart when you dont mention it toanybody else by bragging or making a big show out of it. If you decide to wear thehijab all of a sudden, dont go on and on about it. If youre fasting for God, dontcall up all your friends and complain about it to gain sympathy. If youre going to

church, dont sit at the back with your friends and talk about all the cute guys thatshowed up. Be genuine about it, even if you fool everybody into believing that youare a believer, you cant fool God.

Of course you can disagree with their views, but at the same time you can showrespect. To ask questions about another religion doesnt mean youre goingagainst your own religion. To be interested in the practices of other religions oreven participate in them doesnt mean youre going to convert. To listen to whatsomeone has to say about their religion doesnt mean that youre agreeing withthem, just trying to understand. The best way to respect another religion is to hearabout it, learn about it and understand it.

To r espec t a r el ig io n yo u must f i r stst ar t w it h r espec t ing t he per so n,t he r est w il l c o me nat ur a l l y.

(Iftiin Participant age 16)

cte


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t un esto


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BACk ANd forTH - AAlIYAH

oNlY You - 112 fEAT. NoTorIouS B.I.G & mASE

JuST kICk IT - xSCApE

doNT TAkE IT pErSoNAl - moNICA

I WANNA BE doWN - BrANdY

CANT You SEE - ToTAl fEAT. NoTorIouS B.I.G

CANdY rAIN - Soul for rEAl

ANYTImE - BrIAN mCkNIGHT

moToWN pHIllY - BoYz II mEN

TEll mE- GroovE THEorY

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entetainent

SImAN (mA SomAlI BA TAHAY?)- HASAN A. SAmATAr

Soo Noqo-HIBo NuurA

fArTA IYo WAdNAHA-mAxAmEd CArrAlE

IGA mAqAN-kINSI xAJI AdAN

AduuN BAA dArAdAA- ABdI JABAr Al-kHAlIJIBooGTI JACAYlkA-duNIYA BArAxoW

mAYS ArooSNA?-fuAd CumAr

AlAm dHEH-ABdI JABAr Al-kHAlIJI

GuBAN-HASAN A. SAmATAr

dAYAx-ABdIGAdIr JuBBA

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Lvthyslfao


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Dear Sel,Im sorry the only time we get to talk is when I hate you most. Youre not theenemy, I just need someone to blame. Its never a good day, theres alwayssomething I did or said that was wrong. My friends think Im funny, but bet-ter that than knowing the truth. My family thinks Im good but theres nothinggood about me. My school thinks I could be a scientist but I cant balance mywrongs with my rights.

Why cant it all be enough? Whos going to love me when I cant love myself. I dont

understand why Im constantly craving something else, something new, somethingmore. Im good at pretending Im good.

The nicest thing anyones said to me was that Im not worth the effort. It conrmedso much of what I already knew. If Im not worth it, then no one can expect morefrom me or better of me. Its the best place for my peace of mind. Its where I needto stay so no one notices the worst thing about me how much self-loathing Imconsumed by. It wont ever be better. I cant hurt you more than Ive already doneso. Youre tucked away in a place where no one can hurt you or know how much

Ive inicted on you.

Its easy isnt it? Not standing out, not doing better, not trying. Is it? I dont know

what to do to live truthfully. Dont you?

Dear You,I know more than you. I always have. There arent words you know that can captureyour goodness. Thats not real. It is you layer your thoughts with too much talk.Breath that out and you cant help but be extraordinary. You live outside of yourself-assurance and the freedom of your goodness. What do you mean? Youre notafraid of being good, but of being left outside of the crowd. You give into tempta-tions that arent real. Hmmm? Whatever you think is right you look for others to tellyou so. Break through the unoriginal. How? Dont listen to what you think is right,do it. Dont stop to see what they think, do it. Dont hurt me with thoughts of beinggood, live it.

Stop talking to your-self and learn to love thy-self.

hg

hgiestye


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b o o kTHe LOveLY bOneSr ev iewLovely Bones written by Alice Sebold, is an interna-tional best-seller and has recently been turned intoa lm starring Mark Wahlberg. Sebolds writing isrefreshingly straightforward and an easy read whichexplains its popularity with the younger crowd. Thenovel is narrated by Susie Salmon, a fourteen yearold bright-eyed and bushy-tailed girl living in 1970smiddle-America. Her entire future is shattered when

she is murdered by her neighbour. When herunexpected murder occurs, the Salmon family isdevastated. Without a body to bury or knowledge oftheir daughters whereabouts the family begins to fallapart at the seams.

Susie on the other hand tries to adjust to her newsurroundings, somewhere between heaven and earth.Sebold paints a vivid picture of a childs purgatory. It is a place where you can do

anything and be anyone. As Susie navigates her place in and out of this world shecomes to the conclusion that the only thing that can save her and her family is toexpose the man who murdered her. Meanwhile on earth her father Jack, and sisterLindsey never give up on nding Susies killer.

As the story unravels the author demonstrates that pain and love are two sidesof the same coin. Time, space, and life cannot alter how we feel about the oneswe love. In the face of tragedy, its how we express this love that truly counts. Thestory is a hopeful one and is a classic portrayal of poetic justice. Vengeance, it

seems, is better left to God.

No matter what religious or spiritual background the reader is from there are universaltruths of love, family bonds and friendship. Sebolds re-imagining of heaven andpurgatory is so child-like that readers wont be alienated by her depiction. Thereis something for everyone in this book and I would highly recommend it forthe summer.

Happy reading!


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THe TwIL IgHT Saga

The Twilight Series of books has generated international publicity for re-ignitinga love affair with the undead unseen since acclaimed occult writer Anne Riceintroduced us to Interview with a Vampire. Unlike the anti-hero that Lestatplays in Rices work, Stephenie Meyers heroes are tame, self-effacing andvegetarians (for consuming animal blood).

The story centers on Edward Cullen hoping to be better than those of his kindby refusing to drink human blood. Edward and his family hope to live more

compassionately than other vampires and he has an extra-sensory ability tohear the thoughts of others (human and vampire-alike). Enter Isabella BellaSwan, a 17-year old teenage girl, bright, clumsy and seemingly destined tolive apart from her human counterparts. Edward is unable to read her thoughtsprompting him to discover why. So begins a love story that Romeo and Julietnever envisioned.

Without giving too much away, Edward and Bellas world is complicatedby a love-triangle (with her werewolf best friend), another vampire bent on

her destruction, and the vampire equivalent of a Royal family the Volturi.Throughout these events, Bella must make a choice leave her familiar for theunfamiliar, trading one family for another (the Cullens).

Meyer paints a vivid picture of a world thats all together real and unreal.Following traditional story-line arches, heroes and villains stand on oppositeends of a world where righteousness and good exists even among theundead theres goodness in all of us! While the series is well written andwell imagined, the familiar angst in Bellas teenage life makes it difficult not tosee our heroine as incapable and ordinary. Bella in many ways resembles theaverage teenager but thats nothing worth emulating. If your goal while readingthis series is to be entranced by a story that hopes to keep company with morenotable and epic-like vampire novels grab Anne Rices work. For those thatmerely hope to indulge in a fantasy world and engage their imaginations, thanthe series achieves its aims.

Th t h lit th B ll j th i

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