Somalia Awareness Week

Introducing Somalia Awareness Week

In August 2011, the UN declared famine in Somalia — the first declaration having occurred only 20 years ago, in 1991.  The reality is grim: Tens of thousands already dead, 4 million Somalis being directly affected, up to 750,000 people at risk of death in the coming months, and a refugee crisis in neighboring Kenya. What events have led up to this on-going humanitarian crisis?  Where can I learn more?

Yet every day there are stories of hope, and your participation makes the difference. Through Somalia Awareness Week, Students Rebuild puts a spotlight on the humanitarian crises occurring in Somalia.  It is an opportunity to share not only facts and numbers, but also to see the real people, real faces, and real lives shaped by this crisis.  It is an opportunity to come together to learn, share, and respond.

The Learning in Action Toolkit

Join us by getting the facts and taking a stand against humanitarian crises in Somalia. The Learning in Action guide serves to build awareness about the on-going humanitarian crisis in Somalia and offers action steps you can take to share and respond to what you have learned.  It is a simple guide that allows you to quickly learn about the current famine, its effect on Somalis, and what you can do to make a difference on a day-by-day basis. LEARN. ACT. DO.

Day by Day Activity Sheets & Promotional Materials

Day One Activity

 Day One Activity (PDF) 

Day Two Activity

 Day Two Activity (PDF) 

Day Three Activity

 Day Three Activity (PDF)

Day Four Activity

Day Four Activity (PDF)

Day Five Activity

Day Five Activity (PDF)

Mini Poster Thumbnail

Promotional Mini Poster (PDF)

Get Involved!


Are you a student? Here are five great ways that you can be a part of Somalia Awareness Week:
  1. POST the daily Somalia Awareness Week activity on your Facebook page and encourage your friends to share.
  2. DECLARE Somalia Awareness Week at your school! Announce the daily activities (and sneak in K'Naan's music) during the morning announcements.
  3. SHARE a S.A.W. activity sheet with your friends at the lunch table & your family at the dinner table. Encourage them to take action each day.
  4. ASK your service society, after school club, or sports team to participate with you!
  5. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK if you haven't already - simply click on the green share icon located at the top right corner of the page to share this page with your friends and family.

Are you an educator? Here are five simple ways to introduce your students to Somalia:
  1. USE our curriculum, Somalia: What's Fueling the Famine?, to teach your students about the current crisis in Somalia.
  2. DESIGN your own lesson plan using the S.A.W. Learning in Action Guide - from in-class breakout discussion groups to after-school activities - to empower your students to make a difference!
  3. ENCOURAGE your students to participate in S.A.W. - give extra credit!
  4. CREATE space and time to host a bone-making event in your classroom - spark the conversation in your school about how your students are participating to make a difference.
  5. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK if you haven't already - simply click on the green share icon located at the top right corner of the page to share this page with others.

Resources:

Learn more about a few of the leading organizations providing aid to those suffering from famine, drought and war:

CARE: http://care.org
USAID: http://usaid.gov/fwd/action
Rescue: http://rescue.org/where/somalia
Human Rights Watch: http://hrw.org/africa/
Mercy Corps: http://mercycorps.org
Doctors Without Borders: http://doctorswithoutborders.org