Open Society Foundations: Somalis in Leicester

[Kemolitor]

Seitsemänosainen eeppinen jännitysnäytelmä on edennyt jo viidenteen osaansa:
Open Society Foundationsin (OSF) seuraava somaliraportti Somalis in Leicester on ilmestynyt.

Ketjut aikaisemmista OSF:n somaliraporteista:
Somalis in Helsinki
Somalis in Oslo
Somalis in Malmö
Somalis in Amsterdam

Itse raportti:
Somalis in Leicester (pdf, 118 s.)

Tiivistelmä:
Somalis in Leicester: Executive Summary (pdf, 7 s.)

Wikipedian mukaan:

As of 2009, the UK is believed to have the largest Somali community in Europe. The Office for National Statistics estimates that 115,000 Somali-born immigrants were resident in the UK in March 2010,[1] with Somali community organisations putting the figure at 90,000 residents. According to the 2011 UK Census, there were 99,484 Somali-born residents in England.

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.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalis_in_the_United_Kingdom

Toisaalta ainakin osan somaleista pitäisi menestyä hyvin, koska Osmo Soininvaara kirjoitti vuonna 2007 näin:

Somalipakolaisten huonosta sopeutumisesta saamme kiittää vain omaa rasismiamme. Suomeen tuli paljon hyvin koulutettuja somaleja, joilla olisi ollut antaa paljon maamme hyväksi. Kun yliopistoissa koulutetuille ei ollut tarjota kuin hanttihommia, nämä suuntasivat pian Lontooseen ja rikastuttavat nyt Britanniaa.
http://www.soininvaara.fi/2007/09/21/maahanmuuttajakeskustelusa/

Muutamia kohtia tiivistelmästä:

One that clearly stands out is the energy and activism among Somali women, who occupy a very public role in the life of the community.

Estimates often put Leicester's Somali population at 10,000–15,000 people. In the sample accessed in Leicester for this search, the largest cohort (nearly 50 percent) was from the Netherlands and most of the sample arrived in Leicester between 2000 and 2005.

With a population of 329,000 in 2011, Leicester is the most populous city in the East Midlands. The city has one of the largest ethnic-minority populations in the UK in percentage terms (thought to have passed the 50 percent threshold), and is one of the most ethnically diverse cities outside the capital, with a strong reputation for its multicultural heritage. Nearly half of the councillors (21 out of 54) are of ethnic-minority background, though there are currently no Somali councillors.

In 2008, 60.6 percent of Somali pupils were at Key Stage (KS) 2 national thresholds in English and mathematics; in 2012 this had risen to 76.8 percent. In 2008 26.6 percent of Somali pupils attained 5 A*–C in their GCSEs; in 2012 this had risen to 45.3 percent, close to the city average of 51.8 percent.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate that unemployment rates in Leicester are higher than the national average (14.4 percent compared with the national average of 8 percent). Much less is known about Somali unemployment, though it is expected to be much higher.

There is generally a concern about poor housing conditions, the time taken to undertake repairs, high levels of social housing (council housing, indicating poverty) and housing stock that is small in size, leading to overcrowding.

Despite targeted recruitment campaigns there are currently no Somali police officers or police community support officers (PCSOs), but there are a few volunteers.

There was a general perception that British mainstream media portrayed minority groups, including Somalis, in a negative light.

Somalis do not want to be seen as a problem or as marked out for special treatment, they want to settle and contribute, they want to work hard and earn their place.

Eipä noista oikein kunnolla asia auennut. Mutta ehkä itse raportti kertoo enemmän, katsotaan mitä sieltä selviää. Mielenkiintoinen tuo Hollannista muuttaminen, rasismiahan Hollannissa ei ole, joten se ei ainakaan ole voinut olla somaleja karkottava tekijä, kuten on ollut Suomessa Osmo Soininvaaran mukaan.

[Onnikka]

Noissa maissa on valmiiksi molemmissa samanmoiset kelitkin, eli eivät lämpöä kohti lähde sieltä, työllisyys lähtömaassa eu:n parhaimpia ellei paras ollut vuosia.
Millähän tolalla on somalien englanninkielen opetus täällä? Kannattaisi varmaan lisätä ja paljon sitä jos eivät osaa. Jotta pääsisivät rasismia karkuun.

There was a general perception that British mainstream media portrayed minority groups, including Somalis, in a negative light.

Ovatpa ilkeitä. Silti sinne tahtovat lähteä.

[Kemolitor]

Sitten itse raporttiin, tiivistelmä ei oikein paljastanut, mitä tulossa on.


1. Introduction s. 22 - 25

s. 23: The peak year for Somalis arriving in the UK seeking asylum was 1999, with 7,495 applications, dropping to 2,585 in 2004, 1,760 in 20062 and 590 in 2010. A significant number of Somalis in cities like Leicester are twice migrant, having arrived in other EU states in the 1990s as refugees and after gaining citizenship of those countries, moving to the UK as EU migrants.

s. 24: Leicester's Somalis can be divided into three broad categories: British-born Somalis, Somali refugees and asylum seekers (who came directly from Somalia as a result of the conflicts) and Somalis who migrated to the UK from various EU countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway.

Many times Somali Development Services (SDS) has hosted European delegations, including Dutch, Danish and Swedish, who want to learn from the good practice that enabled the Somali community to settle in Leicester.

s. 25: It is important to recognise that the Somali community can sometimes be thought of as a minority within a minority. Leicester has one of the most diverse populations of ethnic minorities in the UK outside London, and the Muslim communities in Leicester are also heterogeneous, composed of both ethnically and culturally mixed groups stemming from Indian (mainly Gujarati), Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Somali and Turkish backgrounds, among others. Many of the communities settled in Leicester in the 1970s after large numbers of Ugandan Indians expelled by Idi Amin arrived in the UK. By contrast, the Somali and Kurdish communities are newer in Leicester. This has led to some tensions between ethnic groups in Leicester that is described in this report.

On the whole, Leicester's Somali community fits into the city's success story.

Olisiko vihdoin löytynyt Annika Forsanderin tarkoittama paikka, jossa somalit ovat hoitaneet kotoutumisensa hyvin? Tähänastiset OSF:n raportit eivät ole olleet somalien kannalta mitään menestystarinoita.

There is also much the Somali community can teach other groups, for instance the energy and activism among Somali women, who occupy a very public role in the life of the community.

Mielenkiintoinen tuo somalinaisten energinen ja akviivinen rooli. Onhan tosin Suomessakin julkisuudessa esillä olleita somalinaisia kuten Maryan "Suomi on rasistinen maa" Abdulkarim tai Fadumo "rasistimummot hyökkäsivät suihkussa kimppuuni" Dayib.


2. Population and demographics s. 26 - 32

s. 26: It is difficult to establish reliable numbers for this historical presence, but one estimate suggests 600 Somalis lived in the UK in 1953.12 During the 1960s, many former sailors travelled in search of work to the industrial cities of Sheffield, Birmingham and Manchester, as well as London. Also not dissimilar to the larger migratory pattern from Asia, Somali women began to join Somali men during the 1960s, and students also began to settle as citizens.

s. 27: A population count by country of birth makes estimates hard, as, for instance, significant numbers of young Somalis in the UK may not have been born either in Somalia or in the UK, but in other European countries. Measurement and analysis by language also present difficulties as the natural language of many teenagers and youngsters is that of their European place of birth or early childhood, although the main language (the question asked by the census) of the household may still be Somali.

Tämä luku kertoo lähinnä somalien luetteloinnin hankaluudesta, Englannissa ei ilmeisesti luetteloida ihmisiä läheskään niin tarkkaan kuin Suomessa.

Pieni sivuhuomio: sivulta 28 löytyy kuva jonkinlaisesta väestönlaskentalomakkeesta, kohdassa 16 kysytään etnistä ryhmää. Vaihtoehto A on White, sen alavaihtoehdot ovat:
English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British
Irish
Gypsy or Irish Traveller
Any other white background, write in

Irish Traveller on siis Englannissa jonkinlainen oma etninen alaryhmänsä, kuuluu eri ryhmään kuin Irish, mutta samaan kuin Gypsy.


3. Policy context s. 33 - 38

s. 33: Despite a number of important challenges, Leicester continues to celebrate its pride in diversity and embraces a multicultural vision for its citizens. Some of these challenges partly relate to changes in the demography of the city, but also they are in part due to the downturn in the economy that has hit council services significantly and has also had an impact on intercommunity relations.

s. 34: In a move that was heavily criticised by the current city leadership, including the elected mayor, the Labour leadership of the city issued an advertisement in the Ugandan Argus in 1972 urging Asians fleeing from Uganda not to come to Leicester as it was "full". The turnaround in the following 40 years saw the city deal with the rise and decline of far-right groups such as the National Front, the British National Party and more recently the English Defence League. The ability to manage diversity and the reputation of areas such as the "Golden Mile", a focus of Asian food, jewellery and music shops, bring visitors to the city from across the country.

s. 35: As a result of the Equality Act 2010, UK legislation, which has a long history of antiracism policies, is now considerably developed in religious discrimination. The law in the UK now comprehensively covers individuals against direct and indirect forms of discrimination in both the private and the public sectors, and allows for prayer and other core aspects of religious life to be fulfilled in the workplace.

Kuulostaa siltä, että Iso-Britannia on astunut ison ja merkittävän askeleen kohti suvaitsevaista, monikulttuurista yhteiskuntaa, jossa sudet ja lampaat astelevat käsi kädessä nautiskelemaan munuaispiirakkaa.



4. Identity and belonging s. 39 - 47

Tämä on tullut muissakin somaliraporteissa vastaan: somalien keskuudessa ei aina pidetä hyvänä liiallista kotoutumista, assimiloitumista yhteiskuntaan. Monikulttuurisuuden ihanne tietysti edellyttää, että kukin etninen ryhmä säilyttää oman kulttuurinsa.

s. 40: The Change Institute in their research on the Somali community in 2009 found differing and contrasting attitudes to social integration, with some believing that Somali society, particularly its young people, had already assimilated too much into the mainstream.

Most respondents in the focus groups mentioned their religion or the impact of their religious lifestyle as focal points in their identity and sense of settlement. One of the (older) female focus group participants reflected:

One of the things I am very proud of is how Somalis maintain their religious identity and still integrate. Our children are achieving in their education and we are making good contribution to the local economy.

Myöhemmin varmaankin tulee tarkempaa tietoa somalien vaikutuksesta paikalliseen talouteen.

s. 41: The older generation clearly identify with Somalia as a homeland, and are less identified with the UK. Nevertheless, in the discussions there was a clear appreciation and recognition of the positive impact Leicester has had on their families and their personal development, as well as their own contribution to the city. In discussion an interviewee responded:

When an older person approaches you, they will ask "Who you are from?" i.e. what tribe and some young people who have been raised culturally might ask the same but it's mainly the elders. If you ask the older Somali about their identity it will be Somalia, Somalia and Somalia

Sometimes clan issues cause conflicts here, particularly among older people as they are identified with their clans, although only a few respondents referred to this. People felt that internal problems were creating barriers to the development of the community. A female focus group participant talked about the need for greater unity:

It would be good if we can achieve that but we have a long way to go. We still struggle with clan issues, arguing within sub-clans let alone establishing Somali unity.

Klaanitouhusta ei ole tainnut juurikaan olla Somalialle hyötyä ainakaan viimeisen 25 vuoden aikana, mutta silti klaanit tuodaan mukana vaikka on lähdetty karkuun klaanien luomaa kurjuutta.

Kokonaisuutena asiat taitavat somaleilla olla oikein hyvin Leicesterissä:

s. 42: Most respondents spoke about the positive aspects of Leicester and the multiculturalism, tolerance and diversity of the city (see Figure 2), which had contributed to their positive responses on belonging to the city and neighbourhoods. The religious tolerance and freedom to practise their faith was noted by a majority as a reason for staying in Leicester and feeling a strong sense of belonging.

Mielenkiintoinen kommentti somalien muuton vaikutuksesta alueen rikollisuuteen:

Somalis have made positive contributions to Leicester, especially in the unsafe areas like St Matthew's which was previously crime-ridden but the Somalis that moved there in large numbers made it a safe neighbourhood again.

Jamaikalaisista on ollut pientä riesaa:

s. 45: The respondent noted the tensions between young Somali and Jamaican youngsters:

The Jamaican and Somali community also used to fight at the local shools later on when lots of Somalis moved to Leicester ... Even the adults had trouble getting along.

Ensimmäisen lukujen perusteella alkoi mieleeni hiipiä sellainen epäilys, että raportin kirjoittaja kuuluu ns. valaistuneisiin, niihin, jotka ovat nähneet monikulttuurisuuden kirkkaan valon loistavan heille yön pimeydestä. No, katsotaan, mitä seuraavat luvut tuovat tullessaan. Ilmeisesti tämä raportti pitää kuitenkin lukea paljon tarkemmin kuin aiemmat, kirjoittaja ei välttämättä määrättyjä asioita tuo kovin innolla esille.

[Tosiasiallinen Nuiva]

Irish Traveller on siis Englannissa jonkinlainen oma etninen alaryhmänsä, kuuluu eri ryhmään kuin Irish, mutta samaan kuin Gypsy.

Näin on. Irlantilaista alkuperää kuitenkin. Törmäsin sellaiseen heppuun asuessani ulkomailla. Mies tuli kyselemään lanttia kun oli kuulemma juuri saapunut maahan rahattomana. Kuukauden päästä taas sama tarina. Ja kolmannenkin kerran tuli esittämään kyseistä virttä, kun ei muistanut minun naamaani.

Wikipediassa enemmän tietoa:

http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irlantilaiset_kiertolaiset

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Travellers

[talous ja muutos]

Asuinalueeella viihtymiseen ja menestymiseen vaikuttavat myös nämä seikat:
- Etninen koostumus
- Uskonnollinen jakaantuma
- Vallitsevat ja vaikutusvaltaiset kulttuurit

Toivottavasti kyseisessä tutkimuksessa arvioidaan, miten tälläinen ympäristö vaikuttaa somalialaisten sopeutumiseen ja menestykseen:

Wikipedia/Leicester
/Demography

"In terms of ethnic composition, according to the 2011 census, 50.6% of the population was White (45.1% White British, 0.8% White Irish, 0.1% Gypsy or Irish Traveller, 4.6% Other White), 37.1% Asian (28.3% Indian, 2.4% Pakistani, 1.1% Bangladeshi, 1.3% Chinese, 4.0% Other Asian), 3.5% of mixed race (1.4% White and Black Caribbean, 0.4% White and Black African, 1.0% White and Asian, 0.7% Other Mixed), 6.3% Black (3.8% African, 1.5% Caribbean, 1.0% Other Black), 1.0% Arab and 1.6% of other ethnic heritage."

"Christians were the largest religious group in the city in 2011 at 32.4%, with Muslims next (18.6%), followed by Hindus (15.2%), Sikhs (4.4%), Buddhists (0.4%), and Jews (0.1%). In addition, 0.6% belonged to other religions, 22.8% identified with no religion and 5.6% did not respond to the question. There are three active synagogues in the city, one Progressive, one Orthodox, and one Messianic."

/Languages

"Alongside English, around 70 languages and/or dialects spoken in the city. In addition to English, eight languages are commonly spoken: Gujarati is the preferred language of 16% of the city's residents, Punjabi 3%, Somali 4% and Urdu 2%. Other smaller language groups include Hindi, Bengali and Polish."

Alueen muslimit (18.6 %) löytyvät ilmeisesti täältä: pakistanilaiset (2.4 %), bangladeshiläiset (1.1 %), 1.0 % arabialaiset ja somalialaiset (3.8 %). Vaikka he kaikki olisivat muslimeja, niin näistä lähteistä tulee vain 8.3 %. Kun intialaisperäisestä väestöstä (28.3 %) vähennetään hindulaiset (15.2 %) ja sikhiläiset (4.4 %), niin jäljelle jää 8.7 %, joista lähes kaikki voivat olla muslimeja. Jos kaikki nämä olisivat muslimeja, niin näistä lähteistä tulee 17 %.

[Kemolitor]

5. Education s. 48 - 59

Somalien tunnistaminen somaleiksi on hankalaa, joten ei myöskään tunnisteta heidän erityistarpeitaan:

s. 49:  In the UK as a whole, the situation of pupils of Somali background is not very visible in the educational system "because of the failure to recognise Somalis as a distinct ethnic group in data collection". Thus, their specific needs and challenges may have been ignored for some time, despite the fact that Somali presence in Britain dates back to the 19th century.

s. 50: Although Somalis live in various parts of the city, there are wards in Leicester, such as Spinney Hills, that have a much higher concentration of Somalis (see Chapter 3). This has meant that in at least one school (Taylor Road Primary School) the classes have a majority of Somali pupils.

Mitkä sitten ovat juuri somalien erityistarpeet, se jää lukijan arvailtavaksi.

Vähän sekava oli oppilaiden koulusuoritusten analysointisysteemi, mutta jos oikein ymmärsin, somalilapset pärjäävät oikein hyvin:

s. 51: The progress made by Somali children generally in Leicester is very good. Based on the data cited above, 77.4 percent of Somali pupils progressed from KS 2 to KS 4 in 2012, which was higher than the overall average in Leicester schools (71.3 percent), and more than 10 percent better than white British pupils, where only 65.5 percent made the same progress in 2012.

Interviewees working in education in the Somali community have identified certain factors that contribute to this success. This includes improved teaching methods, the availability of better statistics in Leicester schools, the push from parents for children to do well at school and the engagement of the community in schools, as well as increased use of mentors and teaching assistants from ethnic-minority backgrounds.

No juu, ei se tainnutkaan ihan noin mennä, en tainnut ymmärtää oikein tuota sivun 51 lainaustani. Kehitystä kyllä on tapahtunut, mutta koulu menee silti huonommin kuin muilla etnisillä ryhmillä:

s. 52: Despite the great improvement made by Somali pupils over the years, overall achievement levels still lag behind in comparison with some other ethnic groups.

Ilmeisesti suurilla tukitoimilla on saatu somalilasten oppimistuloksia paranemaan, muiden tasolle ei vieläkään päästä.

Yksinhuoltajuus ja monilapsisuus ei Leicesterissakaan ole tuntematon ilmiö somalinaisilla:

s. 53: For single-mother households, with multiple children at a young age, engagement with early years education is more difficult.

Tällainenkin kauhutarina tuli vastaan:

When I moved from Finland I came with five children and the eldest was attending secondary school. My children came with good grades but when they were put with students whose first language was English, they quickly fell behind due to the language barrier.

Syrjintä on todennäköisin syy, opettajat eivät odota kovinkaan paljoa somalilapsilta:

s. 54: Some focus group participants felt that parents' awareness of school procedures needed to be improved, while others felt that there was discrimination, that teachers had low expectations of their children and that not enough was being done to include parents.

Edellisessä maassa asiat olivat paremmin:

Some parents felt that schools in other European countries provided more support for those struggling academically than provided for in British schools:

[In the Netherlands] children with special needs and language barriers received lots of support. Here the number of students in each class is too large for the teaching staff to even begin to provide extra support.

Pientä ristiriitaa: ymmärtääseni muista Euroopan maista on muuttanut Englantiin juuri somalien eliittiä, parhaiten koulutettua joukkoa, mutta toisaalta:

s. 56: There is a big problem with the fact that Somali parents have little or no education themselves and therefore struggle to help their children with their education. Parents need training to develop skills to help them help their children.

The support that Somali parents can provide is also affected by the high number of single-parent families (headed by mothers).

Tutulta tämä alkaa kuulostamaan. Koulun keskenjättäminen on somaleilla paljon keskimääräistä yleisempää:

s. 57: Precise data on exclusion from schools in Leicester have been difficult to come by, as even the city council was not able to provide accurate figures. However, figures for exclusion in other places seem high. A spokesperson for a Sheffield Somali education charity (Somali Education Breakthrough) said that "according to recent Sheffield statistics, Somali pupils are excluded from schools almost 2.5 times more than [other] British children."

We had a Somali consultation day, not to specifically talk about exclusions, but the overall performance of our children. When we asked parents how many of them had children excluded from schools, unfortunately 20 out of 50 parents raised their hands.

6. Employment s. 60 - 65

Englannissa tilastointi ei taida oikein Suomen veroista olla, tarkkoja tietoja työllisyydestä ja työttömyydestä ei ole saatavilla, mutta

s. 60: A report commissioned by the city council in 2008, called The Diversity of Leicester: A Demographic Profile, states: "Unemployment rates for the Somali community in the city are significant and figures quoted have been in excess of 75 percent unemployment for both men and women."

Englannissakin suhtaudutaan syrjivästi koneinsinööreihin, joiden paperit unohtuivat Somaliaan:

s. 61: The non-recognition of qualifications from Somalia can often be a barrier to employment.

Seuraavan lausunnon antaa Issak Abdi, joka ainakaan nimensä perusteella ei ole ns. pottunokka:

s. 62: Issak Abdi, from the SCSC,95 which helps support people into employment, responded
to a question about the low percentage of black people employed in the city, that this did not take into account the unique situation of the Somalis in Leicester "The likelihood of a Somali graduate to get a job easily is not always there because of two things: their background and the situation that has forced them into this country." He commented further:

For Somalis who are here or elsewhere in the main European continent, it is a forced immigration, not an economic one. When you are an economic immigrant you are ready for the new situation, however with Somalis, it was a sudden thing. They are from a wartorn area, (so) there are psychological consequences with these people, they were not ready when they came.

Mitä tuo Issakin lausunto sitten oikein tarkoittaa? Sitä, ettei somaleista taida olla työvoimapulan paikkaajiksi. Taloudellisesista syistä maahan muuttanut on valmis uuteen tilanteeseen (työntekoon?), mutta somalit eivät siihen tullessaan ole valmiita.

Kuulostaako tutulta: kielitaidon puute haittaa työllistymistä:

People are often hindered by their language, which is why they struggle to find employment. This includes their written skills, which are very poor. People need support to obtain language skills.

Tämäkin ongelma taitaa koskea aivan samalla tavalla kaikkia muitakin Euroopan maita:

A number of the focus group participants felt that many Somalis in the UK had never lived in a situation like this before, therefore they do not understand the UK's labour market, how the system works, how to find a job, what their rights are and how to obtain them.

Mutta sitten tulee taas etninen ja uskonnollinen syrjintä, eipä ole näköjään Leicesterkään siitä vapaa:

s. 63: Focus group participants felt that low employment levels in the community were due to both the racial and religious prejudice that many Somalis faced. One participant commented, "Although the language is a barrier, but there are jobs that do not require a high level of language skills and we are struggling to get even those."

Asioiden tilastointi on Englannissa ilmeisesti aika alkeellista, somalien yritystoiminnasta liikkuu kyllä tarinoita, mutta ei tarkempia tietoja:

s. 64: Interviews with stakeholders for this research showed that people recognise that Somali-owned business have proliferated in the city over the last 10 years in a variety of sectors including restaurants, clothing, internet cafés, furniture stores, remittance units and groceries, but there are no accurate sources of information to gauge the precise number of Somali-owned businesses.

Taas pari mielenkiintoista näkemystä haastatelluilta:

Somalis have played a positive role in Leicester. We are also multilingual and we have brought many businesses to the city, which contributes to the local economy. So we are part of the city.

In Sweden we had a good reputation, we are a proud people. In the areas where we live like Highfields, for example, we are very visible. We have shops where people buy their groceries. We have brought many different languages to the city as well. Many people would struggle to achieve the things we have in this city.

Ettäkö Ruotsissa somaleilla on hyvä maine, aina sitä oppii uutta näistä raporteista.

Nyt alkaa tulla vähän ristiriitaista tietoa:

s. 65: With one of the lowest rates of unemployment among Britain's immigrant communities, the Somali diaspora provides several hundred million USD in remittances per annum.

Kun toisaalta sivulla 60 sanottiin:

"Unemployment rates for the Somali community in the city are significant and figures quoted have been in excess of 75 percent unemployment for both men and women."

Ei tuosta työllisyysasiasta oikein selkoa tullut. Tilastoja ei ole tarjolla, joten arvailun varaan taitaa jäädä.

[Tosiasiallinen Nuiva]

No ei löytynyt vieläkään sitä kadonnutta paratiisia, missä somalit menestyvät. Tutkimuksen alku lupaili vähän liikoja. Lisäksi tämä jäi mietityttämään:

s. 65: With one of the lowest rates of unemployment among Britain's immigrant communities, the Somali diaspora provides several hundred million USD in remittances per annum

"Unemployment rates for the Somali community in the city are significant and figures quoted have been in excess of 75 percent unemployment for both men and women."

Keitäköhän ne kultamunat ovat jotka ovat pystyneet yli 75%:n työttömyyteen? Niitä on ilmeisestikin vieläpä useita eri etnisiä ryhmiä.

[Golimar]

^ Leicester näyttää olevan oikea monikulttuurin näyteikkuna mutta luulen ettei sieltä löydy vähätöisempää porukkaa kuin afrikansarvelaiset ja tutkimus kaunistelee asioita.

http://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council-services/council-and-democracy/city-statistics/other-statistics/historical-interest/census2001/ethnicity/

[Kemolitor]

Lisäksi tämä jäi mietityttämään:

s. 65: With one of the lowest rates of unemployment among Britain's immigrant communities, the Somali diaspora provides several hundred million USD in remittances per annum

"Unemployment rates for the Somali community in the city are significant and figures quoted have been in excess of 75 percent unemployment for both men and women."

Keitäköhän ne kultamunat ovat jotka ovat pystyneet yli 75%:n työttömyyteen? Niitä on ilmeisestikin vieläpä useita eri etnisiä ryhmiä.

Tuota samaa minä ihmettelin, 75 % työttömyys tuntuu kuitenkin aika kovalta saavutukselta. Ainakin Suomessa työttömyysprosentti lasketaan työvoimasta, ei koko populaatiosta. Työvoima puolestaan muodostuu töissä olevista ja töihin yrittävistä. Kotiäitejä, opiskelijoita ym. ei lasketa mukaan työvoimaan.

Tuo sivun 65 lainaus oli suora siteeraus joltakin ihmiseltä, ei siis raportin tekijän tekstiä. Mutta toisaalta kyllähän raportin tekijän vastuulla on katsoa, ettei raporttiin ihan järjettömyyksiä paineta.

Raportista tulee monesti eri kohtaa ilmi, että Englannissa asioiden tilastointi on aika olematonta Suomeen (ja moneen muuhunkin maahan verrattuna) tai sitten raportin tekijät eivät ole saaneet tilastoja käsiinsä.

s. 57: Precise data on exclusion from schools in Leicester have been difficult to come by, as even the city council was not able to provide accurate figures. However, figures for exclusion in other places seem high.

Luotettavat tilastot ovat kuitenkin minusta päätöksenteon tärkeimpiä taustatietoja. Mutta tarkoittaako tuo edellä oleva teksti sitä, ettei tilastoja Leicesterin koulukeskeyttämisistä todellakaan ole saatavilla vai ettei raportin tekijä saanut niitä, sitä en ihan tuosta tekstista hahmottanut.

[Kemolitor]

7. Housing s. 66 - 73

s. 66: Overall, housing conditions stood out as the most negative aspect of living in Leicester, as shown in Figure 6. The focus group discussions talked about waiting lists, time taken for repairs, landlords' attitudes, overcrowding and general hygiene. People felt support was inadequate in accommodation and living arrangements, making it difficult to create a sense of belonging and integration.

Liian pienillä asunnoilla kiusataan somaleja Leicesterissakin:

s. 68: Focus group participants commonly spoke of the present trend towards higher numbers of children, sometimes seven or more, suggesting that many Somali schoolchildren are growing up in very overcrowded conditions.

Ratkaisuksi ongelmiin ehdotetaan valitustoimistoa, jossa somalit voisivat valittaa elämänsä kurjuudesta toisille somaleille, joille yhteiskunta maksaisi palkkaa valitusten kuuntelemisesta. Tällähän olisi hyvä työllistävä vaikutus:

s. 71: I would recommend to the council to create an independent body employing Somali staff where people can complain and voice their concerns of the council because there is a lot of unfair treatment, in my opinion.

Valitettavasti seuraavan tapauksen kertoja, ei kerro, mistä hän on muuttanut, uskallan veikata, ettei kuitenkaan Somaliasta:

I have a bathroom that leaks and has damp but my landlord wouldn't do anything about it. Housing and people's welfare was always a priority in the countries where we moved from.

Ihmettelin ensin kappaleen alkupuolella, kun yksityisistä vuokranantajista valitettiin, mutta ei puhuttu rasismista. Sitten asia selvisi, somaleja kiusaavat yksityiset vuokranantajat ovatkin muista etnisistä ryhmistä, tällä kertaa valkoinen heteromies onkin syytön:

s. 72: There was a strong feeling that Somalis were being exploited by private landlords (who were often from other Muslim or other minority communities) because housing demands on the local authorities were great and because Somalis did not know where to seek effective redress. If this view persists and encounters with landlords reinforce an impression that Asians are taking advantage of their social position, this could pose a challenge to cohesion in the near future as a younger generation of Somalis becomes more independent, settled and confident; however, no strong feelings of animosity against any specific social group were expressed in the focus group discussions.

8. Health and social protection s. 74 - 84

s. 74: Leicester faces a number of serious health problems, since its residents' health is generally worse than average in UK. People in the city experience many different socioeconomic circumstances, which have a direct influence on their health and well-being.

This is significant, because Leicester's Somali community can be found in some of these very disadvantaged wards: Spinney Hills and Beaumont Leys contain seven LSOAs that are among the most deprived in the country. Poor-quality housing and diet, pollution levels, a higher proportion of children living in poverty, the lack of feeling in control of their destiny and the psycho-social effects of stress as consequence of this, together with a lack of social mobility, all affect the health of the community. Indeed, "rates of acute diabetes complications are three times as high in the most disadvantaged fifth of the population when compared with the most affluent fifth."

Somaleilla on Leicesterissä henkisiäkin ongelmia:

s. 76: Overall, the findings from Dr Warsame's study confirmed the lack of awareness (in the wider public) about the seriousness and frequency of the mental-health problems of Somalis. Warsame's subjects pointed to stigma surrounding mental health as a serious obstacle to seeking help.

Khattia järsitään Leicesterissakin:

s. 78: The response to the use of khat in Leicester has been varied. The Primary Care Trust highlighted in 2008 that the use of khat was one of the factors linked to mental-health problems within the Somali community. Its impact is felt beyond the user alone, many noting it has effects upon the wider family and community as well: "Although men use khat the impact on women and their families is detrimental."

Studies have identified links to depression and anxiety disorders caused by using khat, leading to mental and physical illness, sleep disorders and dental problems.

Many Somalis have indicated that khat is a real social problem, resulting in both physical and mental-health problems, as well as family breakdown. Some have linked its use by boys to poor educational achievement and even crime. However, participants in the focus groups in Leicester felt that the use of khat was more of a London problem and was not as acute in Leicester.

Naisten sukupuolielinten silpominen ei ole tuntematonta Leicesterissakaan:

s. 78: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is any procedure designed to alter or injure female genital organs for social rather than medical purposes. It is illegal in the UK and it is also illegal to take a British citizen abroad to perform the procedure. The prevalence of this practice in Leicester among some African (and to a lesser extent some Arab and Asian) cultures, including sections of the Somali community, means that families with young girls may come under scrutiny from children's services when going abroad for holidays or visiting family. Some of this is due to exaggerated reports stigmatising Somali families. However, comments from Leicester and international studies show that this practice is associated with cultural traditions (sometimes thought to be a requirement of Islam).

Terveydenhuoltoon liittyy kovasti valittamisen aihetta:

s. 80: Participants complained of multiple problems: lack of referrals to specialists or for further diagnosis, misdiagnosis, perceived unfair treatment, lack of language support, etc.

Jälleen kerran, asiat ovat paremmin muissa EU-maissa:

Some focus group participants compared this with their experience in other EU countries they had come from, where they had better experiences.

Aivan uusi rasismin ja syrjinnän muoto: aggressiiviset vastaanottovirkailijat:

Complaints about aggressive receptionists are also being addressed, as this is a citywide problem.

Lisäongelmina ovat somalien kielitaidottomuus ja kun rasistinen yhteiskunta ei palkkaa somalihoitajia ja -lääkäreitä:

I think the main reason Somalis are given a hard time is due to their language barrier. Somalis, unlike most of the other communities, do not speak English. Furthermore, other communities have members of their community that work at the GP's but Somalis don't have representatives like that. There aren't any Somali doctors or nurses working at the local GPs' surgeries

9. Policing and security s. 85 - 93

s. 87: Events such as the Nairobi shopping mall attack by al-Shabab terrorists mean that this fear is likely to remain, casting a shadow over the British Somali community, even more intense than the one cast over British Muslims more generally.

s. 90: Research since 9/11 has shown that anti-Muslim or Islamophobic feeling150 is increasing across the UK, largely due to media images of Muslims involved in terrorist or extremist activities or the cultural gap between British Muslims and the wider British society.

Viharikoksia tapahtuu paljon, mutta ennen kaikkea etnisten ryhmien välillä, hyvin outoa:

Anti-Muslim hate crime is treated the same as any other hate crime by the Leicestershire Constabulary. Chief Superintendent Nixon said that the police have categories of hate crimes and that there are more crimes against Muslim communities than others and this may be due to local far-right activities. He talked about other factors separate from the typical image that hate crimes are a black against white issue. He said that there are more incidents occurring between BME communities, and that there is also "a huge under-reporting of hate crime".

In Chief Superintendent Nixon's experience, communities recognise hate crime when they are the victims but he was unsure whether they define their own behaviour as a hate crime when they are perpetrators.

Vähän erikoinen luku. Mitään ei kerrottu somalien rikollisuudesta, syyllistyvätkö he muita etnisiä ryhmiä enemmän tai vähemmän rikoksiin.


10. Participation and citizenship s. 94 - 97

Aika turha kappale, somalit eivät paljoa äänestä, kun eivät osaa englantia eivätkä muutenkaan ymmärrä yhteiskunnan toimintaa.


11. Role of media s. 98 - 103

BBC ei ole onnistunut tehtävässään kovinkaan hyvin:

s. 98: Somalis do not yet feature among the casts of popular television programmes, nor are they in popular children's programmes. There are no comedy shows or comedians exploring cultural issues as there have been for black Caribbeans and South Asians in this country. It is worth noting that the emergence of soaps, children's programmes and comedy has been a development of the last 20 years, despite a sizeable community presence for half a century.

Media yleensäkin uutisoi vain negatiivisista asioista:

There was a general perception that British mainstream media portrayed minority groups, including Somalis, in a negative light. This was seen by focus group participants as central in creating a negative image for the wider British community. One focus group participant remarked, "The only portrayal of Somalis in the media is always of violence, terrorism and piracy. It is always crisis-driven." This sentiment was widely shared.

Yes, they always give us a bad name, like the story they did on the policewoman who was killed by a Somali guy. Or the group of Somali girls here in Leicester who assaulted a British young female. These are the stories you hear, otherwise it is silence.

12. Conclusions s. 104 - 106

Pitkin raportteja oli kommentteja siitä, miten edellisessä asuinmaassa olivat asiat olleet paljon paremmin, mutta kuitenkin

There was a genuine sense of gratitude that, after many years on the move, Leicester offered a real chance for a quality of life and opportunity, and a respect for difference that created a space for the Somali community. Most of the focus group participants had in fact travelled from other parts of Europe (chiefly the Netherlands), some had migrated from London or the north of England, some much further afield, but there was no sense of moving on or going back. Leicester is now home.

Mutta ei Leicester mikään täydellinen onnela kuitenkaan ole, toiset muslimit kiusaavat:

s. 105: The perception of discrimination, not just from the wider society, but also from fellow Muslims of Asian heritage, stands out as a stark sentiment in the focus groups. Remarks about the attitude of some members of Leicester's established Asian communities towards Somalis surfaced mainly through housing experiences, where landlords were often Asian. Tensions were also reported in relationships with the city's more established black communities, through issues at school among children. It is unclear what impact all this is having among the under-18s, but it does run counter to Leicester's image as a hub of cultural tolerance.

Melko tyhjäsisältöinen raportti verrattuna muihin OSF:n somaliraportteihin. Epämukavista asioista ei tuntunut olevan kiinnostusta kirjoittaa, kunnollisia tilastoja ei ollut saatavilla tai niitä ei haluttu hankkia. Minulla heräsi epäilys, että kirjoittaja on monikulttuurisuuden ihanuuden täydellisesti kirjoittanut henkilö, joka ei halua negatiivisia asioita mitenkään tuoda esille, että harmonia särkyisi, toisaalta positiivisia asioita ei oikein ollut esilletuotavaksi, joten pyöriteltiin vain sanoja.

Vielä olisi Lontoon ja Kööpenhaminan raportit tulossa, jäämme jännittyneinä odottamaan.