Photos and story by Liban Ali
On February 20th, 2019, Somali Canadian Education & Rural Development Organization (SCERDO) held a celebration for the graduates of intake 1, 2 and 3 of the Somali Youth, Employment, Empowerment, and Integration Project (SYEEIP).
The SYEEIP program is an employment training program put together by SCERDO, running for 10 weeks in-class training with a 14 weeks work experience. The focus is on youth with barriers to employment being given the skills and knowledge needed to pursue employment opportunities and remain gainfully employed. SCERDO hosted 37 graduated participants and had a graduation ceremony honoring their efforts and hard work. The ceremony was opened up by the emcee, Liban Ali, thanking everyone for coming, noting the momentous occasion and passing it off to the Executive Director, Bashir Ahmed. Bashir noted the importance of programs like this, not in just allowing for participants to seek out employment opportunities but for the creation of a greater web of community. Bashir spoke about how every time a new participant finished the SYEEIP program they became threaded in the web of greater community and as such, strengthening and expanding already existent community ties.
The career coach, Pam Bryan and class facilitator Nadia Fatah, also spoke briefly about the participants and their success being a success story for all. Bashir Ahmed, Pam Bryan, and Nadia Fatah, all proceeded to hand out the graduation certificates and accompanying bonuses to all who completed the work experience. One of the graduates sang a closing song and everyone began feasting on a large array of Somali food. The graduation event was an important occasion to celebrate the success of the graduates of the program as well as further strengthen community tie.
