Somali women seek support in Lewiston group

LEWISTON – Some Somali women are creating a support group to help them ease the transition to life in Lewiston.

Azeb Hassan, a Somali woman who has spent the past 12 years in the United States, said Somali women want to work, but often can’t find jobs.

She said too few of the growing Somali immigrant community speak English. Many, she added, are unfamiliar with American culture and don’t have anyone they can turn to in times of need.

“We don’t want people to stay on welfare,” Hassan said. “They want to go out and work like American women.”

Hundreds of Somali families have moved to Lewiston over the past year and more families are expected this summer.

As might be anticipated when large groups of immigrants move into an area, many in the Somali community have had a tough time finding housing, jobs or even figuring out where to take a sick child.

Hassan said the new support network is called the Women and Children’s Advocacy Group. Hassan said plans are in the works to create a full-time office where pressing issues can be discussed – woman to woman.

“We cannot talk to a man for some of the things we need,” said Roda Abdi, one of the group’s leaders. “Women need to talk to women in our culture.”

Abdi, who has lived in New England since the late 1980s and is a U.S. citizen, said other Somali women call her a dozen times a day. She hears the same questions again and again and tells them about city services and hospitals and where jobs can be found.

About 40 Somali women filled a room at Lewiston’s Multi-Purpose Center last week to hear Abdi, Hassan and others talk about resources that may be available to them.

Anne Kemper of the adult education department said the city has applied for thousands of dollars in grants to pay for more English classes and other types of assistance. But, she cautioned, “I don’t do miracles.”