Connecting Cultures’ Corner
“CONNECTING CULTURES’ CORNER,” a monthly newsletter supplement!
An increasing number of individuals who are victimized by torture in their homelands are currently re-settling their lives in Vermont and the greater New England area. The impact of such torture can be far-reaching, not only affecting individuals who have directly experienced trauma but extended families and communities within which these individuals exist. Failing to adequately address these issues can lead to re-traumatization, poverty, discrimination, and unsuccessful reintegration.
Connecting Cultures is a direct partnership between psychological and social work services (Vermont Psychological Services), legal services (Vermont Asylum Assistance Project), physical therapy services (DeePT), and the University of Vermont. Our goal is to provide survivors of “torture” as defined by the T.V.P.A. with holistic, integrated, and effective services in a culturally relevant, client-centered context.
Every month, VAAP will publish this Connecting Cultures’ Corner supplement to its monthly newsletter, sharing highlights from our treasured partners! Learn more at https://www.connectingculturesvt.org/.
Expand Your Knowledge: Somalia
Language spoken: Somali is the official language of Somalia. Dialects are divided into three main groups: The erroneously named Northern dialect (also spoken in the south) and Benaadir are collectively known as Maxaa Tiri dialects. The third dialect spoken in Somalia is the Maay dialect (sometimes spelled Mai or Mai Mai). Northern Somali (or Maxaa Tiri Somali) forms the basis for Standard Somali.
Greeting: In Maay, “Salan" is a greeting that translates to "peace" in English; like how "Salaam" is used in standard Somali.
Geographic info: Somalia is in the Horn of Africa, in Eastern Africa, and is bordered by the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. It's east of Ethiopia, northwest of Djibouti, and southwest of Kenya.
Population: 19,257,891 is the population in Somalia as of November 2024, based on the latest United Nations data.
Life expectancy: The life expectancy in Somalia was 56.11 years (2022) In Somalia, healthy life expectancy at birth (years) has improved by 4.02 years from 43.4 [42.3 - 44.5] years in 2000 to 47.4 [46.6 - 48.5] years in 2021.
Religious composition: According to the federal Ministry of Religious Affairs, more than 99 percent of the population is Sunni Muslim.
Somali in Vermont: One of the largest groups resettled in Burlington are Somali Bantus coming from Somalia via refugee camps in Tanzania. There is a Somali-Bantu community association of Vermont that hosts a range of programs, from Tabar Women’s Leadership Program to Jabar Soccer (more information here). According to World Population Review, there are 489 Somali living in Vermont.
Refugee statistics: Somalia refugee statistics for 2023 was 17,770.00, a 10.9% increase from 2022. According to UNHCR, as of 30 September 2024, Somalia hosted 21,521 asylum-seekers and 19,038 refugees. In addition, 139,529 Somali refugees have returned to Somalia since 2014, the majority coming back from Yemen, Kenya, Djibouti, and Libya. Nearly 3 million people are also internally displaced in the country due to conflict, insecurity, and the effects of climate change, such as cyclical droughts and floods.
Overview of conflict in Somalia: Somalia continues to face multiple challenges, including political insecurity, conflict, and natural disasters such as drought, flooding, and locust infestation. In February 2023, clashes around the city of Laascaanood in Somalia caused increasing internal displacement, with at least 150,000 people forced to flee within Somalia, and nearly 100,000 Somali refugees fleeing to Ethiopia, arriving in remote, extremely isolated and drought-affected areas. Many of the Somalis fleeing are women, children and vulnerable people. Refugees from Somalia have been living in refugee camps for nearly 30 years.
The Horn of Africa is facing a catastrophic drought, the worst experienced in 40 years, following poor rainfall patterns and changing climatic conditions. The drought is severely affecting millions of refugees, IDPs and their host communities, primarily in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. This year, more than 408,000 people were displaced by floods engulfing their villages and another 312,000 people by ravaging drought. Despite having internal displacement and refugee crises of their own, countries like Yemen and Ethiopia have a long-standing history of welcoming refugees from Somalia.
Who are the Somali Bantus: The Somali Bantus are the descendants of many Bantu ethnic groups primarily from the Niger-Congo region of Africa (Gure, 2018). Brought to Somalia in the 19th century by Arab slave traders, Bantus endured centuries of oppression in the horn of Africa as agricultural laborers.
Support a local Somali owned business: Visit Kismayo Kitchen on 505 Riverside Ave., Burlington, VT 05401, United States. Check out their website here.
Upcoming Events by other VT or related organizations
Join the Clinicians for Palestine and the UVM Department of Sociology, the UVM Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Program, United Academics, Staff United, Graduate Students United, and the Palestine Solidarity Caucus for a Will Miller Social Justice Lecture Series event entitled, Not the Enemy Within: The Role of Free Speech in Building Justice and Equitable Communities. This event will be held on December 4, 2024 from 6:00-7:30pm in the John Dewey Lounge of the Old Mill Building at UVM. Register here.
“Register for the 17th National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs Annual Research Symposium. This year's symposium will focus on the Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma and Healing, providing a dynamic platform for researchers to present their findings and discuss ongoing challenges in the field. NCTTP is looking for abstract submissions and presenters; more information on how to submit an abstract. Location: Georgetown University - Georgetown Conference Center, Washington D.C – virtual option to attend also available. When: March 17th, 2025. Register here.”
“The Society for the Study of Psychiatry and Culture is pleased to invite submissions for our 46th Annual Meeting, “Bridging Cultures in Mental Health: Local Insights, Global Implications,” which seeks to explore the intersection of cultural understanding and mental health care on a global scale. Our Annual Meeting will bring together scholars, clinicians, and community leaders to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and foster collaborations that address the complex challenges of mental health in diverse cultural contexts, with the goal of emphasizing reciprocal learning across borders, communities, and disciplines. Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico. When: April 3rd-5th, 2025. Register here.”
Social Work Spotlight: Hibo JAFAR
Areas of Interest: Trauma-informed student clinician, CBT-informed therapy, and promoting multicultural inclusion and support.
Hibo’s thoughts on working with Connecting Cultures: I have been interning with Connecting Cultures since August 2024. I have the opportunity to work with refugee and immigrant populations. As a former refugee, it means the world to me to give back and support communities with mental health resources and social support. It is fulfilling work regarding how much support I can give to families. I have had the chance to build many amazing new relationships with co-workers and the AALV community. Everyone was kind and helpful as they tried to help me navigate the new space. This is an environment where you will learn forever, and I am looking forward to the experiences to come.
Favorite book/artist/movie/inspirational quote: My favorite shows are High Potential and Ghost Whispers.
