Somalis in Grand Island
by Josh Detwiler

The number of Somalia’s living in Grand Island, NE is 500.  The estimated percentage that are fluent in English is 3%. The number of Somali women who attended Lisa James’ basic English class last Friday is 8.

The Somalis face a difficult but familiar obstacle, the language barrier. Imagine yourself in a foreign country needing medical attention. You call the doctor but can’t understand the menu options on the recording. You get to the clinic only to be given a form to fill out which you can’t read. Getting a drivers license, enrolling your child in school, or just going shopping become complex tasks without knowing the language.

Lisa James is a Pastors wife from York, NE who recognized a need. “At first I was shocked by the numbers.” She was then struck by people’s apathy. “There are 500 Somalis living in the middle of Nebraska and nobody seems to care, nobody seems to want to help them out. “It was then that Lisa began searching for ways to reach out to people so far from home.
 
Language is a barrier, but also a connection. It was a simple Swahili greeting that broke the ice and granted Lisa James entrance into the Somali world. It all started in the Somali restaurant on 4th street, which she frequented. It was there that Lisa met a young man named Fitah, a court appointed translator. Fitah was running himself ragged trying to help the growing Somali population in Grand Island. He got a phone call anytime someone needed to fill out a form in English.

“What are the greatest needs of the Somalis?” was the question Lisa asked during their first conversation. English was at the top of Fitah’s list. This answer led Lisa to seek training with the English Literacy Council in Lincoln, NE and to inquire about the use of a study room at the Grand Island Public Library

Every Friday for the past three weeks this is where you’ll find Lisa, teaching Somali’s basic conversational English. Ask her why she does it and you’ll get the familiar response, “Because I love Africans” And for the Somalis, you won’t find a more eager group of students.