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Somalia in Sparkbrook
Somalia in Sparkbrook
By Mohammed Sharif
Birmingham has recently seen a big influx of new immigrants from African countries. The communities are a mixture of Somalis, Ethiopians, Sudanese and others from other parts of Africa. But the question is – why are they moving to Birmingham?
Mohammed Sharif
Sparkbrook has a large African community.
I spoke to many of my friends from Somalia and other parts of Africa along Stratford Road, asking them why they left their countries to come to the UK and why they choose to settle in Birmingham.
Here's a short film made with BBC Local TV about the Somalian community in Sparkbrook.
Watch the film below
Help playing audio/video
"People need to learn more about our community..."
MOHAMMED ABDULLAHI (Somali Youth worker) - "I've been in Birmingham for five years now, I like the environment and the Muslim community here.
Stratford Road Sparkbrook
"Every new community gets discriminated and harassed. People just don't know much about the Somali community.
"But it's up to our own community to express themselves and tell other people what the Somali community is really about. We don't just stand on the roads around Sparkbrook and do nothing all day.
Somalia in Sparkbrook
"In the last six years the Somali community has recently been established in Birmingham. We are starting to see more businesses being set up in the area and there are more things going on.
"But the community still needs help health care, training and education, support for the elderly and also with the youths.
"The Somali youth need somewhere they can do activities, somewhere they can play football, pool and spend their time and be mentored, instead of standing on the streets. We just need a helping hand."
Muse Mohammed
"I love living in Birmingham because a lot of my people are here ..."
MUSE MOHAMMED - "I'm 74 years old and I'm from Somalia. I came to Birmingham nine months ago with my daughters. I love living in Birmingham because there are a lot of my people here, I love to socialise with them. There's also a big Muslim community here.
My two daughters are GP's and they love working and living in Birmingham.
"I'm currently learning to speak English and it's going very well. It's very peaceful living here.
Mustafa Mohamme
"There's a war back in my country..."
MUSTAFA MOHAMMED - "I'm originally from Somalia and I came to Birmingham in 2003. I moved here because there is a lot of my people here and there's a lot of mosques and a big Muslim community, aswell as many education opportunities. That's why I have settled here.
"I'm currently studying an access to health course at Matthew Bolton College. I want to go to university next year. Since I was a child I wanted to be a doctor.
"There's a war back in our country, you are always thinking what time am I going to die. But here it's safe and you can do what you want. You can develop yourself, get an education and you can look for work.
Ahmedey's barber shop
"There is nothing for me back in Somalia."
"Somalis like to go to Sparkbrook to socialise..."
MOHAMMED UMAR – "Birmingham is a multi cultural city and I love it. I came here to establish my future, to get a good career and a good job.
"People have this bad idea about the Somali community in Sparkbrook, people think that every Somali they see goes to Stratford Road. Basically people the Somali community just go there to socialise together, have a cup of tea , watch football together and just to socialise.
Stratford Road Sparkbrook
"I find everyone in Birmingham really friendly, there are a lot of new communities around Birmingham, people just need to talk to each other and get on with one another."
"Birmingham is great because there is a lot of different cultures..."
JACK AYMAN - "The education opportunities are really good here. There's a wider selection of courses you can do. I'm studying communications network at the Millennium University. In Sudan you can get a good education but the qualifications aren't recognised world wide.
Somali Elders Council UK
"I have a lot of friends here in Birmingham. People come to Stratford Road in Sparkbrook to socialise with their own community; it makes them feel less homesick. Birmingham is great because there are lots of different cultures.
"The Somali community needs more help..."
MOHAMMED (SOMALI ELDERS COUNCIL UK, SECRETARY GENERAL) - "Somalis come to Britain because they understand the British culture more than any other European country.
Somali youth
"There was a big exodus of Somalis to the UK in 1988 when the civil war started in our country. A lot of Somalis came to Britain and claimed asylum and refugee status, the majority of Somalis have been granted their stay here.
"Because of this exodus, the Somali community grew quickly in Britain and this brought with it a lot of integration issues and social problems.
"Many of Somalis don't speak English, they lack support in housing and legal issues, and they need specialist help in health services.
"Young Somalis are being exposed to drug usage and street crime.
Somali Elders Council UK
"The Somali Elders Council is working very hard to tackle all these problems, we talk on behalf of the Somali community to put forward these problems and needs of the community to the UK government.
"We are self funded but we do need more help, support and necessary resources to tackle these problems."
Mohammed's conclusion
After speaking to many new immigrants in Sparkbrook, I realised that many of them have come to Birmingham for a better life; most of them want to achieve academic goals and to get better job opportunities.
Stratford Road Sparkbrook
The community still needs a lot of help from the government to help cut crime within the Somali youth, help to sort out homelessness and to create a better awareness and integration in the local communities.
We also need to work more closely with the local government and police.
I hope the Somali communities will happily live in Birmingham for a long time.
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