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SCERDO Changing Lives in the Community

On my visit to SCERDO, on August 9, 2018, for Diversity Magazine success story, making a difference in people’s life was the reason why every staff member I talked to worked at Somali Canadian Education and Rural Development Organization (SCERDO). This making a difference mantra did not end in the hearts and souls of the staff members at SCERDO’s Somali Employability Skills and Work Experience Program when I interviewed Noor Ali.

Noor Ali joined the SCERDO’s Employability Program in 2013 when he was just seven days old in Edmonton. “I learnt computer skills, and how to write a resume. I got safety tickets for oilfield jobs, learnt how to search for jobs and got an oil and gas job immediately I finished the program”. I asked Ali who still works in the oil and gas industry at a professional level, what advise he’d give to current and future students of the program. He said, “pay attention to the program and get the benefits especially as many youths who come from outside the country have no computer skills”. Ali concluded, “It’s a chance, don’t waste it”.

Indeed, Ali’s advise brought me to interview Abdikani Mohamud and Anfa Yussuf, both of whom are just four weeks old into the program to see how they are riding on Ali’s success. Anfa has been home for a while but could not find a job and decided to join the program. “The program is good. I’m learning how to get a job, computer skills and building my confidence,” Anfa shared. Abdikani was a high school student in Ethiopia and was sponsored to Canada through SCERDO’s Refugee Sponsorship Program. “I’ m learning basic computer skills, resume writing. I’m trying to continue my education. My first goal is to get a job,” Abdikani told Diversity Magazine.

Anfa and Abdikani have six more weeks in class and 14 weeks work experience, Career Coach and program job hunter, Pamela Bryan, and Program Facilitator, Nadia Fatah, shared with Diversity Magazine after sharing their core reason of making a difference in the lives of others as the reason they took up their positions at SCERDO in January, 2018.

At his office during the interview, Bashir shared with Diversity, “This program is focus on youths between 15 – 30, with employment barriers for them to learn basic computer skills, leadership, workplace communication skills, conflict resolution, and take safety courses”. Bashir added, “with four intakes per year, the program has had a success rate of 85-90% with graduates either going to further their studies or getting a job”.

SERDO is a non profit with a charity status based in Edmonton. It was founded by a group of professionals who share a common interest to educate, and support the needy through community projects in Canada and abroad. As of today, SCERDO has completed and has ongoing projects in Somalia and in Edmonton, founding member and Executive Director, Bashir Ahmed told Diversity Magazine in an interview at his office.

An Engineer in Somalia, Bashir came to Toronto in 1989 from the USA. He moved to Ottawa where he obtained a Masters Degree in Education in Psychology, before working with the Federal Government. He became full time Executive Director of SCERDO in 2007, and currently runs the organization.

Bashir and SCERDO have won many awards and recognition for their work in the community, such as Outstanding Community Leadership from the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. With all the successes, Bashir shared that they have logistical and financial challenges to enable them cope with growing interest in their programs.