Success in leadership development is one of the benchmarks for our work and for our success. We use traditional organizing techniques for recruitment large meetings, training sessions for community organizing and public policy, all the while providing people opportunities for action. We have also found listening sessions to be effective recruitment tools.
Today, we estimate that our activities have encouraged large number of Somalis to become registered voters and exercise their civic responsibility. We have led six different voter participation campaigns all designed to connect our existing organizing work with the election campaigns of relevant public officials. The Civicark Education Fund (SAAEF) was founded in the spring of 2007. Its mission is to educate Somali individuals and other interested persons regarding civic engagement, voting rights and responsibilities and participation in democracy.
Our mission is to educate Somali individuals and other interested persons regarding civic engagement, voting rights and responsibilities and participation in democracy.
Ten years since its inception in 2007, Civicark Education Fund has been expanding through the region, building power of the people through community organizing, civic engagement, leadership development, democratic participation, holding public officials accountable and staying proactively engaged. The ten years may not have gone as smoothly as possible. The next ten will not either! That does not mean the changes stop here. During 2009, SAAEF was part of the Organizing Apprenticeship Project Racial Justice Cohort Partnership. SAAEF staff and leaders participated in three retreats with staff and leaders from seven other organizations to deepen our understanding of racial justice issues. These trainings were part of our education about how SAAEF can become more active to bring racial justice issues to the broader community.