Speaker 0 00:00:04 <inaudible>
Speaker 1 00:00:15 I'm back. This is Judy SAC B uh, from Somali link radio at K F a I F M 90 pony three in Minneapolis and one Oh 6.7 in st. Paul for the rest of the world. It's <inaudible> dot org. And it's the only Somali link that comes in once a week for one hour it's 24 seven. So always listen to KFI four different voices, different language, different cultures. And I'm Ben denser of music. Today. I have a couple guests. One is not new to the radio. Uh that's <inaudible>. He is the director and founder of youth, family, and circle. And it's our part of our tradition here at samadhi link of KFH to bring back every summer, mr. <inaudible> and his team to talk about what he is he's doing this year with the youth, he mentors, uh, the youth, he really, um, uh, racists with their parents and the fun things that he really fun phrases for them and takes them somewhere. Mr. <inaudible> welcome. Thank you, mr. Radio today with me and have a team, um, have Nim.
Speaker 1 00:01:47 Can you hear me? Yeah, yeah, I can hear you. Okay. Um, it's great honor to be here at KFI and every year I'm hosting us in this special program. Thank you very much. We appreciate your time. And today we have with me here, um, named will seed. She is our family and youth advocacy, um, helps our families and youth advocate for them in different programs. And we also have an Asia and who's also our operational manager and takes care of our operating things. So, um, I always like to welcome NEMA in Asia. Welcome. Welcome back in Nemo and Ayesha. Uh, I only met mr. <inaudible>. I was aware of the, all the programming he's been doing all the summers past. So now, uh, I shot tell me about yourself.
Speaker 0 00:02:38 Hello.
Speaker 1 00:02:43 <inaudible> tell me about yourself. Yeah, we can hear you now. It's about that zoom thing. So my name is Aisha. Um, I grew up in st. Paul. I live in cottage girl. I'm 21 years old,
Speaker 2 00:03:01 And I currently work as a mental health counselor, and I also go to school. That's about it.
Speaker 1 00:03:09 Thank you. I shall, uh, that's really very nice. Uh, the, I liked that you are, um, working in the mental health field. It's a field that's really, especially in this community need, um, a lot of you, um, it's not only in Somalia, East, African community. It's all of us now. Um, thank you. Um, Emma, tell me about yourself.
Speaker 2 00:03:38 Can you hear me Nemo unmute yourself. Oh, okay. Can you unmute yourself?
Speaker 1 00:03:58 Okay. We'll come back to Naima. Mmm, Mmm, Mmm. Can someone close the windows so we can hear each other?
Speaker 2 00:04:14 Can someone actually mute yourself if you're in the car? Okay. Hold on, give me one second. Visit mute.
Speaker 1 00:04:23 Thank you. Um, mr. <inaudible>, um, for those of, uh, of our audiences that, uh, haven't heard our previous programs last summers, um, just to remind us, what did you do last eight years? You get running this program
Speaker 2 00:04:39 And youth and family circle is a nonprofit organization, and it's an organization that helps inner city, um, immigrant kids who don't have a lot of opportunity, um, to do so many things such as outdoors. Um, we have many different programs here at our organization. Um, just to mention a few, um, we have summer camps, we have field trips, uh, girls support, group, boys, support groups, family support, group, mentorship, and pathway to career college. And we have food drive. We have educational seminars, we have community connection for youth, and we also have community engagement events, but one of our most inspiring, um, events has been the summer camp, giving the inner city an opportunity to get out of the city of the toxic city and to expose, expose them to the outdoor creation, the trees, the water, the birds, the hiking, and, and most of these kids can we take don't have that opportunity at all. So that's what we have been focusing the last eight years on.
Speaker 1 00:05:44 Yes, that's really very interesting. Tell me, um, how are you going to do it this year? I know there are a lot of challenges and I love your carriage that you never stop, but, uh, how you're managing about this field trip in the, um, in the, in the shade of a covenant team.
Speaker 2 00:06:02 Sorry, there's one more person who's coming in. Can you let them in on the program?
Speaker 1 00:06:07 Oh, okay. Uh, Nick,
Speaker 3 00:06:09 I can hear you guys now. I don't know if you guys can hear me.
Speaker 1 00:06:11 Okay, good. Yes. I think that there's someone else who is joining us. Okay. Uh, so, um, mr. Kenyon,
Speaker 2 00:06:21 <inaudible> introduced herself. What does that you want Nimo to introduce herself?
Speaker 1 00:06:28 Oh, he's taken over my show.
Speaker 3 00:06:34 That's nothing new there. That's for sure. My name is Jenny Milan. I'm one of the, um, I work with Mahmud right now. Uh, so I just find in, maybe I dunno about a year or two years ago, but I been one of the bands. So my kids as a single mother went through, since they were little, they start with little and now they eat they're teenagers and they, you know, they really loved it. So it's benefit for me and for my family to get out of the city and just kind of enjoy nature in that way.
Speaker 1 00:07:09 Beautiful. I mean, it's really very valuable to have a mom that her kids is a part of this program to be here with us. We are very honored. Yeah, I appreciate it. And I really, um, uh, uh, understand, uh, the work mr. Kenyatta does and how that work is very important to us in the community. And especially, do you expect him to, can you read any John, just for example, uh, the school has been closed way earlier than the summer. Um, COVID-19 young people were confined to their homes. Um, there's a lot of anger in the country. Uh, there's a lot of farm, you know, things unusual happening. Um, there's a coffee too. What are your challenges this year? And, um, apart from the funding that will go to an, ask my audience to get involved and support this wonderful program. But tell me other challenge,
Speaker 2 00:08:07 Uh, earlier this year, um, we had another funding opportunity for our summer camp cause we try to do, we tried to get our funding early in the year. So our funders said, um, and this year you can use that funding for the food portion that happened due to COVID-19. A lot of our families didn't have food on the table. So we went to go ahead, the funding that we were supposed to use for the campaign we went to use for the food portion since COVID-19, um, that is one big challenge that we had the funding that's where our funding dropped for this camp and this year 2020. And as you know, all the kids who are going to school, um, they were in school, in, at home, um, distance learning, um, especially with these kids in East, Africans is Africa. They don't have the opportunity, um, maybe to up North, like other parents do, um, to, to go any places where they were confined in their houses all this time.
Speaker 2 00:08:57 And so, and usually, um, during the last years we'll be taking more than 150 families. So all of our, um, families and youth has been calling us and asking us, can we go? Cause we have nowhere to go. They're just dying to be out there and to do something. Cause they don't have an opportunity once again. And so this year to do the COVID-19, um, we have to follow the state laws and we are only able to take 25, um, kids and youth and parents combined. And so regretfully, we had to call so many families and say, we're sorry, but we have to follow the state guidelines.
Speaker 1 00:09:37 And that's I think if I read your website, which by the way is a Y F c.org, M n.org. Could you say the whole thing?
Speaker 2 00:09:52 Y F C m.org or Google
Speaker 1 00:09:56 Youth, family and circle in Minnesota. So I've read somewhere that 85% are not coming or the families that usually use to come. Yes. Wow. So Naima as a parent, how, how, what you're working on with this organization and also you're a parent, you know, our community, how did he do with that job?
Speaker 2 00:10:24 I mean, me and man would have to call a lot of different families and we tell them that we're sorry, you cannot take. And we really sacrifice a lot of things. So right now what we are doing is the families that really doesn't have anything, any option, like single mothers that doesn't have a choice. Um, and they kind of afford education. It's like we have in all of these kids who are confined in their homes to the last three, four months. So we're just trying to give hope those, even when we, it was really hard for both me and him, we would just hold down a lot of people. And I said, we just apologize it be sorry, there's nothing we can do. We just kind of, you know, kind of blame with the COVID, which is it is, you know, it's kind of, but it was really hard. It was very hard for Borden to refuse other families to come. And I'm like, why there's no, we don't have a choice. You know, we couldn't, we couldn't even find a lot of canvas. They were close to the COVID. So we find really, we're lucky to find this one that we just found.
Speaker 1 00:11:20 Um, it's the Nemo around?
Speaker 2 00:11:23 Yes, I'm right here. Can you hear me? Yes.
Speaker 1 00:11:26 Oh, okay. Yeah. So Nimmo, uh, it's usually very difficult for the families to really, uh, to be left behind and that doesn't go well. Uh, did you have any challenges where you are name called?
Speaker 2 00:11:42 They did, I guess as around kind of like, it's not fair, like, you know, how are we going to do this and kind of, of the families angry with us,
Speaker 3 00:11:55 But we just kind of blame with that. The damage that's going on right now.
Speaker 1 00:11:59 Yeah, yeah. Um, from, from 155, five families, parents, and youth to 25, both parents and youth, that is a huge reduction. And of course it's, we all, we all are blaming COVID and what's happening in the classroom. Definitely, definitely. But, uh, also, do you think if you, if you had more resources, mr. <inaudible>, um, that could be more, would let you, uh, take more families and kids down 25, or you will still be confined to 25, no matter what the resources are. Um, if we had the financial aspect and the resource and the capacity of that, um, we could, um, potentially, um, do the small term potentially maybe take 25 family per week of, of, of, of the summer. But because, you know, June has gone in July, has gone and now we're in August. Um, that I don't, I don't think it'd be a possibility, but if we did have the financial aspects, then we would have, you know, we can 25 on June to maybe 25, a couple of weeks on June, and then a couple of weeks on July.
Speaker 1 00:13:12 And they, couple of weeks close to the 150 that we usually take. But now it's only 25 and like any, mostly a lot of parents were disappointed in a lot of kids, actually, some of them, even if we're crying and say, we have nowhere to go, you know, this is, this is, this is an activity we rely on every summer. Yeah. Um, okay. How much does it take to take to sponsor one kid or is that when you say sponsor a kid, does that mean also one of the 25 kids or according to the parent? Um, what sponsoring could mean sponsoring this one kid and $70 per kid, which includes, um, their whole week, um, when they will be sleeping their whole week of food, as well as their whole week of different activities, such as going on a Pantone, going on a boat ride, going hiking, going swimming, um, is going to be some speakers coming in, speaking about different topics that relate to them.
Speaker 1 00:14:13 So, um, this 270 covers the whole week of, um, them going to this summer camp, ladies and gentlemen, uh, if you are just joining us, this is <inaudible> from Somali link radio <inaudible> today. My guest is <inaudible>, <inaudible> the founder and director of youth, family, youth, and family circle. Uh, that's E S Y F a Y F C minnesota.org, but you can always Google youth, family and circle in Minnesota. And we were here to ask you to support this program. Um, mr. Kenyatta, uh, has been doing this with, uh, parents and, uh, primarily East African kids and their parents to really, uh, shorten, uh, that wide gap intergenerational gap between our youth who were born in America, in Minnesota, who are, who are Minnesota and the first or second generation that really, um, usually have intergenerational gap that leads to a lot of issues. And on top of that, there are a lot of young people in the urban settings that didn't have the resources or the opportunities, or the means some ways to, uh, experience outside of that, this urban concrete.
Speaker 1 00:15:39 Uh, so are he facilitated this program? Uh, where he, every summer he creates an opportunities for kids last year. It was 158 families, kids and parents to this year, according to coffeed 19 is only 25 and we need your help to, uh, sponsor kid or, or help chip in, um, mr. Kenyatta, if I want to help out, where should I go? And we have a donation page on our website. And when you go to www.yfcmn.org right away on the website, when you go there, as you scroll down and read about it, there'll be a click where it says, sponsor a kid and you click on that. And then you go to donation where you donate and sponsor the kid or donate however much you can to support this growth. Wonderful. I, for one, I've been working with a Somali East African community for over 20 years, and I've done a lot of work to a lot of youth programs. I've worked with people like <inaudible>, who has done a tremendous impact on our young people. I volunteer to sponsor a kid. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Nimo what do you think, um, uh, about this program as a parent?
Speaker 3 00:17:01 Oh, I love it. I mean, on, you can see this energy is, and it's anonymous and it did a lot of help with my kids. Not only that he is related to my kids, all my kids kind of looked him as a, like a big brother, so he could talk to him. He came here as a young person, so he kind of grew up, so he knows what they're going to. So to me, it was a big brother who was there and advise, and also he's knowledgeable about our region as well. So anytime they have a question, they always call him it. Okay. This is what is going on. Especially I have four girls, my father has a really close to him, so it helped me and my family in so many ways.
Speaker 1 00:17:39 Okay. We are missing the third guest Ayesha. Okay. You need to unmute yourself. Uh, I'm interested to talk Asia. I said, yes. I can hear you. Thank you. Asia. Asia is 20 year, one year, all Somali American from simple. And she is, what do you do in mental health? I HSA
Speaker 3 00:18:09 I'm a mental health counselor,
Speaker 1 00:18:11 Mental health counselor. You are here in a timely fashion. Um, I shop, uh, you know, uh, after COVID and all of this frustration is mental health is rising in the community, in all our communities. Um, what do you think, um, your role will be in this camp? Or is this your first time?
Speaker 3 00:18:31 No, I've been going here since I was about like 13, 14 years old.
Speaker 1 00:18:34 Wow. So what is your role this time?
Speaker 3 00:18:39 Yeah.
Speaker 1 00:18:42 Are you, are you still attending the camp or
Speaker 3 00:18:44 It'd be the girl act. I'm going to be the girl's activity organizer, but, um, ever since I was young and I was going to camp, I would help a lot around like the, um, cooking and playing games and just like being there to talk to everyone. So, yeah, I don't have like a specific role, but I'm just going to be everywhere. That's what I like doing best. Yeah.
Speaker 1 00:19:07 So as a, as a mental health counselor, um, I HSA, uh, E uh, Naima as a mom and as a leader second year, you know, uh, a lot of issues were happening in our community with young people. Uh, addiction is on the rise with, um, you know, prescription bills, uh, with, um, fentanyl, uh, with, uh, a lot of frustrations that are happening, you know, after the death, uh, the murder of chart Floyd, um, there's a lot of issues happening in our communities and our cities. And, um, I, should you think you will be also talking to young people about their, you know, counseling them, would that, would there an opportunity for them to talk to you about what's going on in their lives?
Speaker 3 00:19:54 Yes, I am going to be very open, like, um, for those conversations. And I think like also, I think a lot of people are scared to bring up those topics, but like, I, I'm just going to like, make sure like that everyone knows that they can come talk to me about it, if that is something that they're going through or they know someone that is going through that, or even like lost someone to it.
Speaker 1 00:20:16 That's what the, would that an opportunity for you to invite the young people and say, Hey, I'm up in, you know, you can always find me in that corner or at the, that. Yeah, perfect. Because that's really what's needed. Um, I, I'm a dad, I'm a father of two girls, um, two young ladies and one is 18 and going to UFM this year and the other one's going to South high. So yeah, people like you, I shall, we, we really need you in the community. Um, our young people need to talk
Speaker 4 00:20:48 To people they trust and they know mr. Kenyatta, walk us again through the program each day, what happens? Um, and, um, what do you do that highlight why patents come do they do something with the kids?
Speaker 2 00:21:05 Um, so, and in this program, we try to make sure that the kids and the family have that connection. And so when they get out of this program, that family connection is built really strong. And that's the one, the whole purpose of it to build that family foundation. And for, for the families, um, when they come to camp in the morning, we all get up and, you know, um, we exercise and we, we all say goals. What is, what is our goals of the day? Um, what, what is, what is a goal when you go back so that when you go back and come back to a city, you have something that you need to work on so that you have no free time. You have a achievement or an accomplishment that you want to achieve when you, when you get back to the city, um, that installs them to, you know, to take that free time. Cause when it's free time in our young lives and that's where a lot of, um, maybe negative things can fall in. And so we create this program as a positive thing for the youth. So that time, that free time could be occupied with good positive, that will be a lifelong, um, change in their lives.
Speaker 4 00:22:11 Perfect. And are there different activities set up for each day?
Speaker 2 00:22:18 Yes. So, um, in the morning when we do the exercise, then we have each day, we have different speaker after breakfast, after exercise. And the speaker talks about an, uh, career path, college, um, how to avoid drugs, um, friendship, um, the employment professional. So each day we have different speakers from different professionalism. And, and then after that, um, we do a little bit scavenger hunt, um, where each group finds something in a, and w it's like a team versus team, whoever wins sports. It's like a scavenger hunt kind of game. And that's, um, since it's a little bit cool and it's getting a little hot, um, we get ready to go into swimming and AF after the swimming in the, for a few hours, kids get hungry and then, um, we feed them some good lunch, um, good food, um, chicken, um, and then after lunch, the kids usually like to take a one hour nap because they're so tired.
Speaker 2 00:23:20 Um, then after that's a one hour nap, we go ahead and do, uh, uh, boating and, um, tunes for three hours. And we go around the whole Lake and it takes us so long and they, we educate, we educate them about different animals in the fish, um, different things around the Lake. And so it's like an education for them as well, where they learn about different things out there. And then when they come back, then in the afternoon, we have another speaker and we have two speakers each day, one in the morning and then one in the afternoon. And then after the speaker, um, we have a dinner time. And then after dinner time, we have something in Somali called the shed, which is the
Speaker 4 00:24:06 Used, just having to only want to say, yeah, I'm a lot of dancing,
Speaker 2 00:24:11 The marshmallows, the smallest, everything. And then we all have, you know, stories that we have every kid and every time an opportunity to tell them a story that they want to tell about their life or something they've learned or something they want other people to learn. So that's kind of, um, to get into the activity of each day and we try to follow that activity. And for each day, just change it up a little bit. But that's the main portion of activities for you today? Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:24:34 So what do you go to the same place every year or different place?
Speaker 2 00:24:39 Every year, we try to get a different place. Um, we have been last year, a couple of years, we have been going to a place called Sibley state park this year. We found another place. Um, in Paynesville, Minnesota, we were blessed like Nimmo saying for one our friends, um, you know, him, his name is Jay. Um, yeah, dear first he helped us connect with one of, um, a church leaders. And so they had their camp. And so they were open to us to come to a camp and use their camp that week, um, for that week.
Speaker 4 00:25:09 Wow. Jay Paris gets a good connector. It's always been like that. Great. We appreciate him. Yeah. So yeah, this time I want to come to the lock to the mom on the EMA and, um, uh, Naima. When was the first time you turn this program? I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you. What did he say? When was the first time you joined this program? Your father?
Speaker 3 00:25:34 It was 2008 and that was our first time together as a family. And what I really like about it was we were bought up like a little get up early in the morning. We would do the exercise and then we go to cooking. So me and my older kids would go into the kitchen and we would cook. And we would have like a, like two or three moms that who was in there. But at the same time, the teacher teenagers was in there with us to prepare the food. And then some of the, some of the other kids would serve and some of them will play. So we will do something as a family, not only as a family, also as a community with different, um, different families coming together. So that's one of the things that highlights the, Oh my God, we're all like cooking together.
Speaker 3 00:26:17 We're having fun. We are talking. So the one the kids have going outside or it's women, all the mothers will come in and we'll talk about, you know, what the challenges that they're open to. So that was one of the highlights that I really liked about this cam. And we were just here for one goal just to get out of the city. And one of the things that we do, also, some of the States that we zip up the box that we go then have a cell phone services. So kids wouldn't be in the phone. So we would just collect all the phones from the kids and all of those. So it was really fun just to be with the kids and have fun. And don't worry about phone calls and internet and social media, none of those. So that was one of the things
Speaker 2 00:26:53 Hard or difficult. Was it, uh, um, for you as a parent or other parents to take away those phones?
Speaker 3 00:27:04 Actually, when it wasn't like, yeah, that's what I would Mike is. They would actually, wouldn't looking forward to those at the political to the camp. And I think because I have more than the other groups that who was a volunteer, it was, they were really connected with my kids. So it wasn't hard for me as a band. Like you wouldn't just call it. Even for me, when they see me putting my phone down, they can see, okay, if mom's would have her phone down, let's just have fun because they will go to swimming. They will, they will have fun. They will go to, what is it called? Hike and, and all of those things. And then they will kind of associate with other kids that they haven't seen in a long time, or they haven't met before. So how does we thought it wouldn't be, but it was really fun.
Speaker 2 00:27:47 Uh, mr. Kenyatta, um, how you've been doing this over the years. Tell me about that. Give me an idea how the, whether it's the Sibley park or another park, how does, how far away from the twin cities and how does it look like what kind of farm is a real rural area? Uh, it's about, um, most of the camps that we go to is about two hours to three hours away. And so the kind of bedding that we sleep, we don't sleep, um, like outside, uh, where a lot of people like to see, but we have a cabins where there's bunk beds, um, one on top of each other. And so, um, we have, uh, families who stay in one bank, one bunk beds or one cabin. And then we divide all the families in their own different bunk beds. And then we have a kitchen facility and we also have a lecture or speaker comes in facility and we have of course a Lake.
Speaker 2 00:28:40 And then we also have a trails where kids go hiking and that hiking takes about anywhere from one hour to three hours. Um, so it's, it's really a amazing place and, you know, um, a place where, um, kids rejuvenate and they take the stress out and whatever, you know, negative one thing they had in mind, it's time for them to fresh their mind and, and really think about what they want to become in life. Cause when they get out of the city, their minds are really open to good advice. And so this is an opportunity where, um, there's a lot, there's a lot of growth. Um, we have in development for the youth and for the kids and families as well. That's the <inaudible>, he's the founder and the director of family, uh, sorry, youth and family circle. That's a youth and family circle. It's a nonprofit five Oh one C he's his team on him and his team and parents work with him. I've been engaging young people from primarily from the East African community, uh, that did
Speaker 4 00:29:42 Not have the opportunities to get out of the city, um, from four Oh for the summer and engage in a rural area in Minnesota and do activities, uh, connect with their parents and with themselves. And, uh, he also, um, talked about the structure of the program this time it's covered, uh, time. And, um, last year he did 180, 58 families that is the families and their kids. And, um, but this year it'll be only two 25, including parents and kids only 25 because of COVID-19 mr. Kenyatta is here again, like we do every year. We have him on the air share with the audience and all of us what he's doing and what we can do to help him. So we are here today. I invite, I really am asking him to come over as I do every year to help him, um, engage this young people, continue to engaging young people, I'll create, uh, produce, continue to produce him healthy families and also, uh, bright leaders for the future, a good citizens for our community and a country. Mr. KRA, again, share with us, how much does it take for us, the audience to support you.
Speaker 2 00:31:01 And this year we really looking for, um, a lot of different help. And as you said earlier, many of the youth are, um, or the kids are stuck at home and they don't really have an opportunity to go out. They depend on this kind of program, um, to, to, to outdoors and, and field students, summer camp. They really depend on it. If this program doesn't happen for them, they have nowhere else to go. They just suck at home. So we asking, um, and Minnesotans of everyone to contribute and to help
[email protected]. And, and we asking, um, to sponsor a kid or a youth. And that sponsorship is about $270, which covers their food the whole week they're asleep and all of their activities. Once again, that's w w w dot Y F C M n.org. Once you go there and scroll down, you will be able to sponsor or donate however much that you are able to.
Speaker 4 00:31:59 Yes, that's what I was going to say. For example, not everyone can sponsor a kid. A lot of people is that, okay, people contribute $5, $2, $10, $25, $50 hundred, 500, you know, feel free, feel free, feel free, whatever you can, you know, this group are really making a difference and it's not a new program is the eighth year that all these young people, um, on the F mr. Kayla, when I come back, I want to ask you how what's the average number of people before COVID each year for those eight years. Right now, we will be right back after we hear this message, but an amateur that a radio <inaudible>, Minnesota <inaudible> <inaudible> of <inaudible> in a <inaudible> athletes. <inaudible> <inaudible> America shock programming is supported by community action, partnership of Ramsey and Washington's headstart and early headstart offering full day part, day, and year round options for preschoolers and weekly home visits for pregnant moms and children under three head start is now taking applications for the fall priority is given to families on public assistance in foster care, experiencing homelessness or living below the poverty line. More information on a multilingual hotline at (651) 603-5977,
[email protected].
Speaker 5 00:33:59 When it comes to building communities, all Africans matter. It's time for roll call. The content is 2020 census, our numbers and that funding for community needs like roads and health clinics. Census takers are going door to door, wearing masks and following local safety guidelines. When they knock answer completing the census is simple and all personal information remains confidential by law. It's not too late. Shop. Your future starts
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Speaker 4 00:34:27 Fateful by us census Bureau. Welcome back. This is sack B here from Somali link radio. Somebody linked radio comes out at K F a I radio every Tuesday, 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This program, Kim on air it February, 2017 on our program is about engaging and sharing programs. Um, stories like this, mr. <inaudible> and, um, uh, the, um, youth and family circle does every year. And this is what we need really to hear and, and to share with the community and with you. Uh, so we can support those programs, make it bigger. Mr. Kenyatta, as I was saying, my question is, you said eight consecutive years this year, last year, it was 150 something families and kids that took advantage of this program this year, unfortunately, because of COVID-19, uh, it's only 25 people, including moms or parents and kids. Tell me about the average year without covenant team, how many family members or kids.
Speaker 2 00:35:47 I can't hear him that the average is between 150 to 200, um, per year. And each year we try to increase that number because each year there's more families that get to know the program and that want to experience this as their first time as well. And so each year between 150 to 200. Thank
Speaker 4 00:36:12 And, um, can you share with me, or I'm sorry with us, um, the things, the, the kind of feedback you're getting from two different sides. One from the young people, that's the goal or from the parents
Speaker 2 00:36:31 And from the young people. Um, the feedback that we have gotten is most of it has been positive. Um, they have told us that, you know, um, it helps them, um, kind of rejuvenate and it helps their mind, and it helps them have a structure when they come back so that they don't fall through the cracks with other things. So, um, the feedback is positive and it helps them once again, um, have a, a goal to achieve once they come back and then through the, throughout the whole year, we follow those kids and make sure that, you know, um, they get to that goal that they are wanting to. Wow,
Speaker 4 00:37:12 Well, that's a, that's a really big, I mean, it's not just a cam on, Oh, it's Friday. We done go home. Everybody. It's just a, you follow ups throughout the year. Um, tell me about the success. For example, it's evident to see right here talking to Ayesha, uh, who is a graduate of this program started back in when she was 13 today she's seven she's 21, and she has a profession. She is a mental health counselor. That's a big success. Tell me about the success of this young people, if you follow them throughout the year
Speaker 2 00:37:48 And many people, um, you know, um, don't really get to know our organization and the small success that we are. We are making a difference in. Um, sometimes it's not about the large number. It's not about the thousand or the two thousands. And if you made a difference in one person's life, you know, and in our, and culture or religion, it says that it's like making a difference in the whole of humanity. You know, that's true. So for us, it's step by step. Um, and it's not about the mass is more, the little things that counts.
Speaker 4 00:38:21 So yes, I understand that. But also if you follow the kids throughout the year, um, I believe a lot of them are graduating from high school. Uh, some of them went to college, uh, tell me that kind of success. They like, like, I'm sorry, like Aisha, did they come back and volunteer? I mean, do you, how far do you follow them?
Speaker 2 00:38:43 Uh, so a lot of kids, um, we actually have kids coming from elementary, um, middle school and high school. Um, we also help, um, those kids when they come back and have the parent decide for the school. Even a lot of parents contact us and ask us about the school. They should take their kids to. So we also fall falling towards that way. And so as they grow up and we try to put them back on our program so that they can have the other younger kids and be in that success line as they were, you know, so it's like flourishing coming back and they were a camper and now they're coming like Asia, she's coming back to be helped or not only help her, um, like a, basically a manager, you know, and, and, and helping our younger kids now, wonderful is actually still around. I think he just left on her phone. So now I'm on, you know,
Speaker 4 00:39:39 You kind of speak for your kids and you can speak for the parents because you're a part of the program.
Speaker 2 00:39:44 Um, tell me what, um, what has changed
Speaker 4 00:39:48 Before you joined the program? Tell me about the relationship between you and your kids and what has changed and how fast and how slow.
Speaker 3 00:40:01 Well, I, well, I'm one of the lucky ones that I wasn't going to always close to my kids on. I had them when I was really young, so I kind of grew up with them. So I was really close. But one thing that kind of made a different for me was, is having our community, someone that who speaks the same language and who looks like me and all of those things and having fun with my kids, that was one of the, the beautiful thing that I gained from the camp. Um, my kids were like, he said that he wanted them. Asia was 15, but I had a five year old that we join. She just graduated right now. And she was like five or six, seven years old when she joined. So each time it's just amazing to see that she looks forward to when someone comes in, Oh my God, I kind of need to go to the cam and just, you know, have fun. Wouldn't have more than his family and the other kids kind of like that. So it was really amazing to see my kids grow up that environment. And now they're going to palate. Each one of them are going to college. So this house, they saved my kids and my family. It's just amazing to go to gram. It's just really amazing. And I'm really happy to be part of it.
Speaker 4 00:41:03 Thank you. And I hope one day the grow is to really a capacity to have 500 and a thousand or 2000.
Speaker 3 00:41:09 I hope so. Yeah. Yeah, definitely. I'm hoping
Speaker 4 00:41:13 It's another bloody long time ago that I will always do my best on my part because I Smith said as our religion, religion says
Speaker 2 00:41:23 Anyone who hurts
Speaker 4 00:41:26 One person, that person hurts all humanity, anyone who helps one person, that person helped all humanity today. My guest is, are mr. Mohamad, AKA mumbled Kenya. We call him Kenya. Uh, and also a mom, um, uh, EMA Kayla is the founder and the director of FA uh, youth and family circle, a program that builds our young people by bringing young people and their parents together, uh, bridging that cultural gap, intergenerational gap, um, immigrant, um, American bond gap, um, between Patterson kids in rural settings, a program that creates leadership, uh, talks about the future, does a lot of counseling and a lot of work. Uh, mr. Kenyatta is running this program for the eighth year. Uh, the, the participants are primarily from, uh, East African communities, uh, primarily Somali communities that the twin city twin city. And, um, last year on average is anywhere from 150 to 200.
Speaker 4 00:42:35 And, uh, uh, I say, I understand, um, people take a check or participate in this program every year, and that is youth and their, their parents. And this year, unfortunately is only 25 because of COVID-19. And if you want to see, like I did check their website and you will see how they are going to be safe and all the programs COVID-19 precautionary and guidelines they have in place. So I'm sure this families and kids would be safe and still take the opportunity, but they need your help. They need your help every year. I invite mr. <inaudible> to share his story and the story of the parents and the young people too, with you. So we can support and build this program and make sure that this young people are evolving through this program so they can achieve and become a better citizen, is that contributed to our society. Um, mr. Kenyatta, again, tell us how can our audience has helped you
Speaker 2 00:43:35 Audience and can help us. And by going to the website at WW dot <inaudible> dot org, and from there, they can donate any amount to help and sponsor our, our youth, um, which will get us to a goal and to make sure you know, that this camp and activities runs and for our youth and for our kids, cause this is something they look forward to. So it's hard, you know, we don't want to take that away because of financial. You know, we have the skillset, we have the experience, we just always, I'm having hard time collecting the financial aspects. So, um, we have, you have the opportunity as audiences people to make sure this program continues by going to Y F C M n.org and donate any amount that you are able to,
Speaker 4 00:44:21 That is youth family, and I'm sorry, youth and family circle. You can easily Google that and find the, uh, are your contacts there? True. Okay. One of the artists have
Speaker 2 00:44:34 Questions. Yes. Um, when you go to the website, I'll phone numbers on there, our email is on there right away. They can contact us directly, right. From there.
Speaker 4 00:44:45 One last question for both of you, um, did you ever have experience where this young people, one of them for the first time discovered a snake and the animal, a bear or something, and how was the feeling?
Speaker 2 00:45:01 And, uh, so a couple of years ago we had some young people who discovered deer. We also had one of them discover a bear while, um, we were off course, all scared, including myself. I'm the first one that ran away from saving those kids at that moment. Yeah. You'll see a lot of different animals, you know, when you're in the woods and, you know, um, if you don't bother them, they won't bother you. Yeah. Oh, that's very interesting. Well, please,
Speaker 4 00:45:30 Uh, I, I'm very honored to have you,
Speaker 2 00:45:33 Um, uh, Oh, by the way,
Speaker 4 00:45:35 Did you say Ashley is your daughter? Yes, she is. I'm very proud of you. That's young ladies. Very, I'm very proud of her and I will. That's how I, that's how important Asia is a 21 year old mental health counselor as a male Somalia, American female, young female from simple, very proud. I'm very proud. And, um, I've seen so many young people in the studio from the community that are giving back to the community, helping our society, uh, stay safe and healthy. Thank you very much. And please, if you want to support this program, go to the website of youth and family circle and help, whatever you can donate. I, uh, I urge you to, to be part of this program and read more, ask more questions. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Speaker 2 00:46:26 Thank you. Thank you so much for having us in this program. We appreciate you and the support that you give us every year to come in studio. Thank you. Thank you so much. Nice to meet you and talking to you.
Speaker 4 00:46:38 I say hi, Tricia.
Speaker 2 00:46:42 Thank you. Bye bye. Bye bye.
