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Empowering Somali Youth for Change

Yusuf Hassan thanks the organizers of the NEPUSA conference and remarks that it is an historic gathering of hundreds of young Somali students from across Kenya. He notes that the Somali community faces serious underdevelopment, poverty, disease, and security challenges like extremism. However, he says that with the new Kenyan constitution guaranteeing rights, the youth now have the education and opportunities to address problems constitutionally and work for a better future through non-violent means. He challenges the students to use their skills and leadership to improve their community and be trailblazers for Kenya.

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19 views3 pages

Empowering Somali Youth for Change

Yusuf Hassan thanks the organizers of the NEPUSA conference and remarks that it is an historic gathering of hundreds of young Somali students from across Kenya. He notes that the Somali community faces serious underdevelopment, poverty, disease, and security challenges like extremism. However, he says that with the new Kenyan constitution guaranteeing rights, the youth now have the education and opportunities to address problems constitutionally and work for a better future through non-violent means. He challenges the students to use their skills and leadership to improve their community and be trailblazers for Kenya.

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Remarks by Yusuf Hassan, the MP Kamukunji, at the NEPUSA

conference in Kasarani.
24 October 2015
I want to thank the dynamic chairperson of NEPUSA, Sudays Hassan
Korane. I want to thank the organizers and the leadership of NEPUSA.
You are remarkable. I want to just say thank you to all of you for your
love, for your support, and encouragement.
I am delighted to be here and to be part of this extraordinary gathering.
We have here with hundreds of young Somalis who have come from
colleges and universities across the country. This is an amazing and
indeed a historic event.
To my knowledge , there hasn't been a meeting of this kind in this
country. I see here a new dynamic and educated force that is
awakening to its historic role in our society, our country and continent,
and indeed the world. I could not have imagined that one day I will be
standing in front of so many of you. Despite the rough and hard road,
we had to travel in our troubled history, this shows how far we have
come.
You come from a seriously underdevelopment and neglected region. It's
population lives in grinding poverty and suffers from hunger, chronic
diseases and high levels of illiteracy. Besides, it is a region bedeviled
by chronic insecurity and instability. At the national level, the Somali
community is subjected to disproportionate discrimination. This is
unacceptable in the 21st century.
We must address and deal with the security challenges that the region
and the community face today. In talking about security, we cannot
ignore the elephant in the room - the growing threat of violent
extremism and its consequences - on Northern Kenya and the Somali
community.
Now let's be honest. Some of the security problems we have are selfinflicted. It is within our power to end the debilitating clan conflicts in
our midst , we must work had to create peace in our communities, to

heal the wounds and promote sustainable co-existence and


cooperation.
We have in our midst a growing number of young people who have been
radicalized either by socio-economic problems or the injustices they
face. But while I fully understand the myriad problems they encounter in
their daily lives - nothing justifies the path and course of action they
have chosen to seek redress. Violent extremism is unacceptable and
immoral. We must condemn it and stand together with other Kenyans to
counter violent extremism. We must banish all forms of extremism and
intolerance within and without our community.
At the same time, as a country we must address the underlying
problems that give raise to resentment and alienation. We must give
equal opportunities to our youth, we must give justice to our youth, we
must give hope to our youth, and a stake in the future of our community
and country. Only then we can seriously embark on a development
agenda that will put our community and region on the path to progress.
We are an emerging democracy, with a new constitution that guarantees
the fundamental rights of all its citizens. The preamble of our new
constitution reads as follows:
-- Proud of our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, and determined to
live in peace and unity as one indivisible sovereign nation.
-- Recognizing he aspirations of all Kenyans for a government based on
the essential values of human rights, equality, freedom, democracy,
social justice and the rule of law.
We can seek redress against violations and pursue our democratic and
human rights constitutionally. The constitution should be our shield and
defender.
The struggle for change and a better society will shortly fall on your
shoulders. You must have the strength, the stamina, the character, the
commitment, the courage and the determination to shoulder it and move
your community and country to a higher level.

Your grandparents, your parents and my generation were not fortune to


have the education, the skills and the know-how you have and
economic, political and constitutional opportunities that we enjoy today.
No generation is better prepared and equipped to change the status
quo, change your community and region and change Kenya and Africa.
The struggle for that change is your struggle. From the moment you step
out of the comfort of your colleges and universities, much is expected of
you - not only by your family but also your community and country, and
you will be expect to provide leadership and drive the social, economic
and political advancement of your community and region and be a trail
blazer in Kenya and the world
I challenge you to seize the moment, rise and shine, and scale to new
heights, and be proud sons and daughters of your community and
country.
As Mahatma Gandhi said " be the change you want to be".
I wish you well in this demanding but rewarding journey in your life.
Wasafiri msichoke safari ni ndefu.
Thank you so much.

Common questions

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Yusuf Hassan anticipates that successful engagement in the proposed development agenda by the Somali community and its youth will lead to transformative socioeconomic progress . Such outcomes include increased stability, reduced poverty, improved education, and a decrease in violent extremism . This engagement is expected to instigate a broader positive impact, allowing the community to leverage its educated youth for leadership in Kenya and globally . This, in turn, could enhance cohesion and create a more equitable and just society .

Yusuf Hassan perceives the current generation of Somali youth as uniquely positioned to drive change due to their education, skills, and constitutional opportunities . He expects them to shoulder the struggle for societal change and propel their community and country to new heights . Hassan challenges them to lead social, economic, and political advancements, overcoming the barriers faced by previous generations . He urges youth to be agents of change both locally and globally, invoking Gandhi's philosophy of being the change they wish to see .

Yusuf Hassan proposes strategic actions such as ending clan conflicts and fostering community peace and cooperation to counter violent extremism . He stresses the importance of addressing the socio-economic problems and injustices that lead to radicalization while condemning violence as immoral and unacceptable . Additionally, he advocates for collective action with other Kenyans to counter extremism and stresses the need to provide youth with equal opportunities, justice, and hope for their future .

Yusuf Hassan envisions education and youth empowerment as crucial in transforming the Somali community by equipping young people with the necessary tools to challenge the status quo and drive development . Education provides youth with knowledge, skills, and new opportunities that previous generations lacked, enabling them to effectively address socio-economic issues and injustices . Empowerment of youth through education is seen as a pathway to leadership and active participation in political, economic, and social advancements, ultimately contributing to peace and stability within the community .

Unity and diversity are central to Kenya's new constitution, as highlighted by Yusuf Hassan, underpinning the values of human rights, equality, and democracy . The preamble expresses pride in ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity and emphasizes the importance of living in peace and unity as one sovereign nation . This framework provides a constitutional basis for fostering cohesion across diverse communities while affirming their rights and pursuit of common national goals, intended to elevate marginalized groups like the Somali community .

Yusuf Hassan assigns Somali youth the crucial role of driving social, economic, and political advancements in addressing their community's challenges . He emphasizes that, equipped with education and skills, they are better prepared than previous generations to tackle underdevelopment, discrimination, and insecurity . Youth are expected to provide leadership and embrace their responsibility to effect change, not only locally but also as a trailblazer for broader national and continental advancement .

Yusuf Hassan's call for Somali youth to "be the change you want to be" emphasizes personal responsibility and proactive engagement in societal transformation . This call challenges youth to internalize change, embodying values such as leadership, resilience, and vision, which are crucial for personal development . For community goals, it implies youths are pivotal in combating socio-economic challenges by initiating grassroots movements, fostering unity, and leveraging collective action towards sustainable development . The call encourages a shift from passive to active roles in shaping a future reflective of their aspirations .

Yusuf Hassan describes the Somali community's historical progression as one of a challenging journey from marginalization and neglect . Despite these difficulties, he highlights progress shown by the unprecedented gathering of educated Somali youth eager to impact society positively . He notes the community's enduring issues, such as underdevelopment, poverty, and discrimination, and emphasizes the need to build on recent advancements to address these concerns .

The new constitution supports Yusuf Hassan's goals by guaranteeing fundamental rights for all citizens, embracing diversity, and promoting unity, peace, and democracy . It provides a framework for seeking redress against violations and pursuing democratic and human rights constitutionally . This constitutional backing enables Somali youth to engage in political, economic, and social advancements necessary for their community's development .

Yusuf Hassan highlights challenges such as underdevelopment, grinding poverty, hunger, chronic diseases, illiteracy, insecurity, instability, and discrimination faced by the Somali community . He suggests addressing security challenges, ending clan conflicts, and promoting peace and cooperation within communities. Furthermore, he emphasizes countering violent extremism and addressing socio-economic issues and injustices . Hassan argues for providing equal opportunities and justice for youth to redress resentment and alienation, thus embarking on a development agenda .

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