From Somalia to SCSU: Recent SCSU Graduates Share Refugee Stories

The article below authored by Vicki Ikeogu and first published on The University Chronicle highlights the challenges three siblings faced from displacement from their native land to finding a new place to call home in the State of Minnesota, U.S. It is not always easy navigating change across multiple levels but Abdikadir, Anab and Farhiyo Idifle have against all odds overcome great challenges to achieve their American dream in accessing higher education: Earning a college diploma may seem challenging to some, but three recent SCSU graduates have faced far greater challenges in order to even get to that point. Leaving their war-torn homeland, living in a refugee camp in Kenya for nearly two decades, flying half-way across the globe and being transplanted into mainstream American society, siblings Farhiya, Anab and Abdikadir Idifle have struggled with adversity in adapting to their new environment and the desire to maintain their national identity. After being born and spending the early years of their lives in Somalia, the Idifles were suddenly thrust into the chaos of Somalia’s civil war, which broke out in 1991. “Everyone was escaping for their lives,” said Ahmed Ali, Farhiya’s husband. “Everybody took flight. It was either fight or flee.” The Idifle siblings soon found themselves displaced persons. Without a home, Farhiya, Anab, and Abdikadir were forced to move into the Dadaab Protected Refugee Camp across the border in the neighboring country of Kenya. “Everything was taken away,” said Farhiya. “When you’re living there, it is difficult to survive.” The siblings described their seventeen-year stay at Dadaab as one of unknown dangers and constant concern. “Life was a struggle,” said Abdikadir. “There was not enough food.” “There was not enough healthcare,” said Anab. “The most difficult thing was security,” Ali said of the Idifle’s experience. “There was looting and rape. Without the protection of a government, people were vulnerable.” As a refugee, Ali explained that people in the same situation as the Idifles were essentially trapped. There was limited movement between the refugee camps; one was basically stuck there. “Your rights were not protected. You have lost your nationality,” Ali said. However, about five years ago, the Idifles got the chance they were hoping for; a chance to leave their refugee camp home of seventeen years. Ali explained how the process of relocating to another foreign country works. Ali said that each year, the foreign nations, such as the United States, allocate for a certain number of refugees they are willing to allow to stay in their country. Then, it will be decided which people are eligible to leave, and according to Ali, it’s those that have priorities, such as those who cannot go back to their home country, or those that have been in the camp for a long time. Those that are eligible, go through a lengthy process of interviews, background checks, medical screenings and security checks. Refugees that successfully meet all of the criteria are allowed to leave the camps for a new life. That new life, however, brought about a new series of challenges for the Idifles. Landing in Chicago, the Idifles stayed there for about three months before relocating to Minnesota, which houses a growing population of Somali immigrants, with nearly 10,000 in the St. Cloud area alone. “Everything was new,” said Anab. “You had to become dependent on someone,” Farhiya said. Ali explained the dependence on the existing Somali community was to help with the transition to life in America. “You don’t know the social norms or the culture. You have no navigation of the school or health care system. The community helps with financial aid, shows you where to go for a primary clinic, and how to apply for jobs.” “It’s all about the support system we get from the community,” Farhiya said. “One of the signs of our culture is to help each other,” Abdikadir said, “Even if we fought them back home, we still help them.” After being settled in the St. Cloud area, the Idifle siblings were able to enroll in college to discover and fine tune their passions. Farhiya, the oldest of the three, majored in Social Work with a minor in Human Relations. “I’m passionate about helping people,” she said. “After all, I was helped by a social worker.” Anab, the middle child, majored in Community Health and Biology. “I had a very strong interest in public health,” she said. “I want to work with health issues in the community, health promotion and health education.” Abdikadir, the youngest of the Idifle siblings, graduated with a degree in Statistics. “Growing up, I always had an interest in math and science,” he said. Abdikadir was also involved in an undergraduate study that involved recidivism rates in Stearns County, which is how the county handles and supervises repeat criminal offenders. While these degrees are important for Farhiya, Anab and Abdikadir, they are also concerned with the issues facing their former homeland. “My uncle, my dad’s brother’s children, still live in Somalia,” Farhiya said. “We feel we have a responsibility to our people,” Abdikadir said. While in the last few years, the Idifles have said Somalia is starting to stabilize, it is still an uphill climb. “The whole country is a little upside down. It will take time to rebuild,” Farhiya said. “I will definitely go back, but not right now,” Abdikadir said. Because of their education at SCSU, the Idifles feel that they can make a difference in the Somali community here in St. Cloud, and assist in rebuilding their country. “Who they were five years ago and where they are today. Now some of them have families and a very promising future. This is a country where you can come with nothing and have a dream,” Ali said.