In the eyes of the youths!

ETSS means different things to many in Columbus, Ohio. But to over 3,000 youths, ETSS or the Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services means free summer camp, free after school program, summer employment program and participatory Youth Summit. 

Friday, August 4, 2017 hundreds of youths gathered at the Ohio Dominican University, Columbus to round off the 2016/2017 season at the 7th Annual Call to Action Youth Summit with the theme “Actions of Kindness: Justice, Peace and Freedom.”

For seven years, the ETSS has worked with the Franklin County Commissioners and other sponsors to engage youths in elementary, middle and high schools in progressive activities that keep them busy and away from crime. 

Moving from one end of event center to the other during the outdoor session of the 2017 Youth Summit, the Executive Director of ETSS. Dr. Seleshi Asfaw told NewAmericans that ‘we are happy to see the children enjoying it a

nd having fun.”

“It was started in 2011. The reason why we wanted a Youth Summit was to look at certain issues in the society that affect youths such as crime and violence and even external pressure such as terrorist acts that invade the youths ideology. These were things the parents and government were not comfortable with. We felt it was better to let them know things they cannot be involved in by keeping them busy.  

If you give the youths an opportunity of where to stay during after school time and during summer time, a safe place where they can learn, educate and understand each other and work with different culture then it will really be a positive thing. In such a way they will be busy, they will learn and do things in a safe place and they will get leadership training and become productive members of the society,” he disclosed. 

The proposal that was therefore put to the county commissioners and through the Franklin County Homeland Security got approved and gave birth to the Youth Summit. The first Youth Summit was “A call to Action Youth Summit”.

According to him, “The program enables the children and their parents to come together and celebrate our successes during the summer time and celebrate our successes during the academic years and our achievements. The first year was encouraging because we had about 250 youths that participated and was held at the Capital University. The second was at the Police Academy.”

With about 3,000 youths participating since inception, the project has grown from that initial dream of a Youth Summit to after school program, summer camp, summer youth employment and leadership program.

Dr. Seleshi pointed out that, “Participation has continued to grow and it is becoming very competitive.

In our Summer Employment program, we have only 120 spots for the youths to get employed and be involved and to acquire work experience. This time 500 applicants applied but only 120 were given placements. For the Summer Camp over 750 registered in all our six sites and only 300 got opportunity to be part of the summer camp experience.

“And for the youth after school program in the elementary, middle school and high school, the number is rising and we don’t have enough space for all the kids that are interested. The parents have seen how the youths programs are effective and helping their children. Many parents have told us of how grateful they are that their “children have improved in math and reading and the field trips they enjoy every week.”

In acknowledging the sponsors, the Director of Development, Laura Berger told New Americans that, “we are grateful to the Franklin County commissioners, and the Ohio Family Support and Job Services for providing the fund and other sponsors like ADAMH, United Health Care, Homeport, Ohio Capital for Corporation for Housing, College Liftoff, Ohio Dominican University, Paramount Advantage and other partners. We enjoyed support from Girl Scouts, Joel and Amy Harcar, Youth for Home Rights, Bowditch Consulting, Oral B and Greentree Dental, The James – the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and some restaurants for their generous support like Llibela, Dabakh African Restaurant, King Gyro and Himalayan Grill.”

The project which started with one site can now boast of six sites with children and parents clamoring for more. At the Youth Summit on August 4, the Master of Ceremony, Makida Bekele, a senior in Gahanna Lincoln High School has been involved in the ETSS youth program since inception.

Parents also play their part as stated by the Executive Director, “the most important part is the parent engagement. We have parent engagement structure in our program. Any parent that brought children to our program must participate in the parent engagement program and also must volunteer some hours to work with the children.”

In his evaluation, Dr. Seleshi said that, “the most satisfying work we’ve done at ETSS is investing in our future. We have seen these kids grown from elementary school, followed them to middle school and followed them to high school. Now we are following them to college. After graduating from college we are giving them opportunity to work with us. Our attendance rate is 94 to 95%. Our kids are in a safe environment, they are nurtured with education and at the same time they learn a skill that they will need in their future career which include the software skill and the job training. We are building from the base.”

A restaurant like an Embassy – Esther Ajiboye, Intercontinental Restaurant

Esther Ajiboye

“Cuisine include jollof rice, very popular food within West Africa, and pounded yam, made from African yam which is pounded; it goes with several soups which include the egusi soup made from special West African melon seed, cooked with spinach and some herbs and distinct tropical ingredients with different choices of meat like goat meat, chicken, beef, and fish,” Esther Ajiboye, co-owner of Intercontinental Restaurant on Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio reeled out effortlessly as the commander-In-Chief of the restaurant. 

 “This restaurant is like an embassy here in Columbus where people meet and interact and even get information about living in Columbus."

The former banker who, about five years ago, partnered with the husband in opening the Intercontinental Restaurant, also known as Lagos Peppersoup Corner, told the New Americans that “Cooking is my passion, I love cooking, and it gives me joy and pleasure. It did not start here in America, it started back in Nigeria where I just love to cook and feed people.”

According to her, “I saw the niche, especially in Columbus. There are people who are hungry and can’t really find the home-based traditional dishes and I felt that this is my passion.”

Also on the menu list are “spinach soup with various spices including meat, dried fish and shrimps to give it good flavor. Also we have the okra soup. It is slow cooked in a traditional way with traditional African spices along with meat. In all the soups we use palm oil. 

There is Afam soup which is loved by Nigerians and Cameroonians who know it as ‘eru’. There is also the Nkwobi, a special delicacy which is made from cow skin with special African spices. We have the rice and beans special. There is pepper soup which could go with goat meat, assorted meat and fish. Special African fried rice using the parboiled rice is a delicacy on its own. There is the porage beans with fried plantain; bean soup known as gbegiri and jute leave soup known as ewedu. We have amala or elubo (yam flour) which some refer to as cocotte. We have meat pie, beef, and special meat called suya.”

 "It is a city that accommodates immigrants. It is a very welcoming city in Ohio State. Grateful to the government and the people of Columbus.”

“It’s not just a restaurant”, Ajiboye noted, “This restaurant is like an embassy here in Columbus where people meet and interact and even get information about living in Columbus. We’ve been able to assist a lot to transition here in Columbus. People want to know nice areas to live in. A lot of people have been assisted in many ways. A lot of people are coming to live in Columbus because of the good news they are hearing about the city. They’ve heard that Columbus is a family based city. In that way we are contributing our own part to the development and growth of the city of Columbus.  It is a city that accommodates immigrants. It is a very welcoming city in Ohio State. Grateful to the government and the people of Columbus.”

Modern day technology has made accessibility to the restaurant a one-touch order online. “We provide services like dine-in, carry-out option and we have the delivery service using the Grubhub and the SkiptheDishes. It is done online, and customers go to Intercontinental Restaurant. Our menu are loaded on the site and customers can order what they want and the delivery fee is very minimal. The meal is delivered hot. We get a lot of orders through this. But some order online and pick up themselves.

Other services provided by Intercontinental Restaurant include “wedding caterings and we’ve catered for numerous, weddings, birthday parties and graduations.”

Understanding Diabetes

By Patrick Olabode,MSN,RN, CNP 

What is Diabetes?

Patrick Olabode, 

If you have diabetes, your body either cannot make insulin, cannot make enough insulin or the insulin does not work correctly. The three main types of diabetes are:

1.  Type 1               

2. Type 2

3. Gestational diabetes (during pregnancy)

When Things Work Right

When you eat food, it is digested in the stomach and passes into the small intestine. Food breaks down into basic sugar, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals, water and waste products. The sugar/glucose crosses into the bloodstream and the amount of sugar in your blood rises. The pancreas makes insulin and sends it into the bloodstream. Insulin helps sugar get from the blood into the cells so the cells can use it for energy.

Type 1 diabetes-the body fails to make insulin-common in children and young adults. Must use insulin from an outside source because their body cannot make insulin or does not make enough of it.

Type 2 diabetes-occurs after the age of 35. Is the most common type of diabetes. It results from the body not making enough insulin combined with a failure to use insulin properly (insulin resistance). Occurs more often in women, African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Risk factors-include: Family history of Type 2 diabetes, intake of refined foods, little or no activity/exercise

Gestational diabetes-occurs during pregnancy. Up to 9% of all pregnant women develop diabetes during pregnancy.

Signs of Diabetes

Excessive thirst, excessive fatigue, frequent urination, blurred vision, weight loss, wounds that do not heal, constant hunger, itchy skin, yeast infections, numbness or tingling in feet or hands

Hypoglycemia-(Low Blood Sugar) (Note: Signs and symptoms can occur very quickly.)

Watch for: Cold, clammy, sweat, shakiness, fainting or dizziness, headaches, pounding heart, trembling or nervousness, blurred, double or tunnel vision, hunger, irritability, numbness or tingling of lips and mouth, personality change.

What to Do:

Check your blood sugar level if possible If your blood sugar is below 70 mg/dl .(or the level set for you by your physician) or you are having symptoms, eat foods or drink liquids that contain 15 grams of carbohydrates or take three to four glucose tablets. You need glucagon injection to raise your blood sugar.

Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar Higher than240 mg/dl) (Note: If you have signs and symptoms, they may occur slowly over several days.)

Watch for: Increased thirst, hunger and urination weakness, stomach pains and general aches. Heavy, labored breathing, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, fatigue or a drowsy feeling, irritability or depression, blurry vision (Note: You may not have any symptoms.)

What to Do:

Call your physician right away and report blood sugar levels higher than 240 mg/dl. Drink fluids without sugar if able to swallow, test blood sugar often, test urine for ketones if blood sugar is higher than 240 mg/dl or if you are vomiting. Give regular insulin according to your prescribed sliding scale.

Causes: Not enough insulin or skipping medication, too much food Infection, fever, pain or illness, physical and emotional stress, not getting enough exercise. 

For more information on current research, visit website: diabetes.org.

(Patrick Olabode MSN, RN, CNP—patolabode@yahoo.com)

New African Immigrants Commission elects Officers

Rosaire Ifedi

Members of the Ohio State New African Immigrants Commission have elected Rosaire Ifedi as Chairperson, Comfort Cole-Kenneh as vice-Chairperson and Ibrahima Sow as Recorder at the Commission’s first meeting held recently.

Both will hold their positions till the end of their tenures which are till October 7, 2018 for Rosaire Ifedi and October 7, 2017 for Comfort Cole-Kenneh.

Ohio State Governor John R. Kasich in July, 2017 appointed six, Comfort A. Cole-Keneh, Ibrahima Sow, Eugenie Kirenga, Rosaire Ifedi, Abass M. Bangura and Tariq Mohamed to the New African Immigrants Commission.

Comfort A. Cole-Keneh

The New African Immigrants Commission was established in 2008 with effect from 2009 to advocate for the development and implementation of policies and programs to address the needs of the State's sub-Saharan African population. The appointed members of the commission will be the first to serve since the establishment. The Commission is expected to have 11 members.

The commission shall elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and other officers from among its members as it considers advisable. Six members constitute a quorum. The commission shall adopt rules governing its procedures. No action of the commission is valid without the concurrence of six members.

Members shall not be compensated for work as members of the commission.

Ibrahima Sow

A statement from the Governor’s media office said that “Comfort A. Cole-Keneh of Gahanna (Franklin Co.), Ibrahima Sow of Reynoldsburg, (Franklin Co.), and Eugenie Kirenga of Kettering (Greene Co.), have been appointed to the New African Immigrants Commissin for terms beginning July 21, 2017, and ending October 7, 2017. “Rosaire Ifedi of Columbus (Franklin Co.), Abass M. Bangura of Reynoldsburg, (Franklin Co.), and Tariq Mohamed of New Albany (Franklin Co.), have been appointed to the New African Immigrants Commission for terms beginning July 21, 2017, and ending October 7, 2018,” it added.

Sponsors of the bill in the 2007/2008 127th General Assembly Regular Session were Representatives Stewart, D. and McGregor, J and Cosponsors were Representatives Brown, Evans, Flowers, Foley, Heard, Skindell, Strahorn, Yates,  and Yuko.

The commission is expected to among others: “Gather and disseminate information and conduct hearings, conferences, investigations, and special studies on problems and programs concerning sub-Saharan African people; Secure appropriate recognition of the accomplishments and contributions of sub-Saharan African people to this state.”

...as we mark “Welcoming Week USA” September 2017

By Tatjana.Bozhinovski

 

Tatjana.Bozhinovski

In this article I speak about my experience with educating immigrants and refugees, what I see in the classroom, challenges I see that my students/clients are faced with as they come here to rebuild their lives, as well as the culture shock they are experiencing. 

But, before I get to my students and their families, I would like to tell you a little bit about me and my background.

I was born and raised in Macedonia, a little Balkan country that used to be a part of Yugoslavia and is the size of Vermont.  My family and I emigrated from Yugoslavia right before the war started there to America.  Last February we celebrated our 29th anniversary since we came to the USA.

I was in high school, my brother in middle school, and none of us, including my parents spoke any English. In fact, as soon as my brother and I learned a word or two, our parents relied heavily on us to translate and take care of the adult stuff, like doctor appointments, reading mail, writing bills, filling out documents. 

Now, I was a teenager, 16, and I wasn’t having fun just like the other kids my age.  I felt like I grew up very quickly and skipped a huge part of my childhood like being a teenager and doing all kinds of crazy things teenagers do. From an A student back home, a class president and involved in a bunch of extra curriculum activities, choir, scouts, mentoring younger kids, competing in poetry and so on, I came from school many times telling my parents that I had not spoken one word that day.  I was afraid to look at anyone because I feared that they would talk to me, and I had no idea what to say or what they said in that matter.  So, my dictionary was my best friend.

 I experienced good and bad in school.  I had teachers who really helped me and wanted me to succeed, but I also had a teacher that told me she had wished all immigrants would go back to where we came from, because she didn’t know what to do with us.  On my school documents, my race was OTHER, and I had no idea what that was all about, because never before in my life race was an issue.

Since I was in kindergarten, I said I wanted to be a teacher, and that wish remained alive throughout my struggles here, and my experience as an ESL student in America made my decision easier as I decided to work with the ESL Department of Education. Out of 20 years in the classroom, 20 are spent working with ESL students (minus the semester I taught in a non-ESL class).  I feel so privileged to have worked with students from so many countries, 72 up to date to be exact, and speaking many languages.

And if you think my story coming here as a teenager, not speaking any English, not having friends, not having any fun, was heartbreaking, you have heard NOTHING!

You have heard before, I am sure, teachers wear many hats: they are not just teachers, but social workers, parents, phycologists, counselors, and on and on…

Teaching students with many challenges, not just learning problems or physical disabilities, but students living in poverty, households where drugs and alcohol may be present, gangs, domestic violence….. I can go on….

Now, on top of all this, let’s add a few things: I have had students that have escaped death, war, killing, blood, running for miles to survive.  I have had students that never before lived in a house with electricity and running water, students that spent years in a refugee camp, born there, students who fought or ran to be one of the first ones in line to get one meal a day or some water.

In the early 1990s, most of my students were from Ethiopia and some of the Asian countries like Laos and Cambodia. On the very first day of my job, I had a little girl, a 4th grader from Ethiopia, beautiful dark eyes, who was so proud of her brand new clean school, American outfit, but wondered why everyone was looking at her and laughed at her.  It was a blue pair of men’s PJs. But, she was still beautiful in my eyes. I gave her a pencil to write her name, but she did not know what to do with it. Later in the day, I wanted to do a cut and paste activity, she screamed when she saw me with the scissors. She thought I was going to hurt her with this thing that must have looked like a weapon to her.

Another girl from Ethiopia, from now well-known and respected family within the community, she is a lawyer in Las Vegas now, started school on Halloween. This is when we had Halloween parties and parades. When she saw the masks, the costumes, the monsters and witches, she was terrified. She buried her face in my waist and cried the whole time. She was in 2nd grade.

Let me tell you about Juan, who fought with everyone who came near him.  We learned he watched his father being beheaded by the cartels. He was in middle school.

Jose kept coming to my classroom during recess and lunch, wanted to stay after school, to help me, to clean my room or anything I would ask of him. I found out, I reminded him of his mother who he would not see for a very long time, if ever.  She stayed behind as he and his father and sister crossed the border.

A high school student from El Salvador, who escaped with a bunch of men he never met before. Almost drowned swimming across a river, raped by one of the men. He lost 40 lbs. by the time he reached his mother’s doorstep, who didn’t recognize her own son.  He was in high school when I had him and he attempted several suicides. 

I will never forget the high school girl who hated going home, because her father gambled, and beat her, because that’s what they do back home. They sold their daughters for money.

I can go on and on and on about the times I have taken students or their loved ones to the doctors, prepare them for chemo therapy, make funeral arrangements. And they needed a lot of help, because they knew nothing of how things work here in America.

And I have milestones of happy stories, happy times like graduations from high school, college, quince eras, buying homes, even their weddings and christening of their children.

Now that I work with adults, I have found that the challenges are no less. Most of my clients now are from Somalia, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Ukraine. We all know what is going on in these countries.

I have had students with multiple degrees from back home, engineers, lawyers, natural medicine doctors, philosophers, interpreters who worked with our US military.

 I also have adults who have never held a pencil in their life. And those that are not used to following any rules, because they never followed any back home. Beside English, I teach these individuals Employability Readiness.

Large families, moms who always took care of their many children at home, but now they are told to put them in day cares in the hands of strangers, and they, eventually need to go to work.

I have families that are actually split. Half of them made it here, and the other half are still waiting for their paperwork to be processed. I have a mother from Aleppo, whose 15 year old son stayed behind for this very reason. Everyone else from the family is here but this boy and they had to come because they would lose their visa if they waited any longer. Is it fair of me to expect any progress from this woman in class?  I am asking her to learn a new language while her mind is where her son is, in the middle of a war zone! And now there is a ban?! Will he make it? How much longer till the entire family is together? How dare I ask her to read and write and do any classwork when she has so much to worry about! But, she does, and she has made progress. They all have, and will continue with God’s will, because this is their home now.

THIS IS THEIR HOME NOW! I love the fact that our city is the home of so many New Americans. From the bottom of my heart, I thank Mayor Andrew Ginther for reassuring us that our city will remain a welcoming city to people from all corners of the world, no matter the race or the religion.  I also attended the commissioners meeting with many community leaders, and appreciate the continuous work to protect our new neighbors, our brothers and sisters. 

But, I also hear what our New Americans face every day out there.  They are called names, or told to go back home just because they look or dress differently than others. Or worse! You have heard it all; I don’t have to repeat it.  I would love to see what happens to the individuals committing hate crimes. In fact, I call for our local and state officials to implement harsher penalties for hate crimes. To challenge their colleagues to end hateful speeches against people who just want to live a peaceful life.  It is their right! It is everyone’s right! We call them Human Rights!!!

And to close, and sort of send a message of hope to our New Americans, especially our youngsters:  I have always been in awe that even in times of challenges, struggle, heartbreak or loss, we prevail. People from all cultures are now spread far and wide across the globe, but cultures and identity are honored, remembered, kept alive, so our new generations are aware who we are and where we come from. Each of our cultures, history and traditions are unique and beautiful. I am certainly proud of my Macedonian culture. And I know that my culture and the cultures of everyone else living here make America beautiful! This is what makes America GREAT!  Keep your heritage; involve yourself with associations and groups that uphold great values. And dream big and invest in good education so that you can pursue your dreams, because the world of opportunities is limitless.  

( Tatjana.Bozhinovski is the Contributing Editor of the New Americans magazine and an Instructor with Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services, Columbus, Ohio)