Launching Seminar for the Nordic Somali organization at Hanasaari – the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre, Hanasaarenranta 5, 02100 Espoo, October 20th-21rst 2014
National associations of Diaspora Somalis have been established in most Nordic countries. The Finnish Somali League (Suomen Somaliilitto) and the Somali National Association in Sweden have been active in the last two decades. The Somali Association of Norway (SPIN) established in 2012. The mission of these national associations is to protect and represent the inhabitants of Somali origin in their countries enhancing their sense of belonging to the society and also contribute to the future development of their respective societies.
Because of the shared missions and the similar challenges the Nordic Somali associations have found a need to come together and create a common platform for cultural, social, economic and political activities of Somalis in the Nordic countries. After a series of meetings both in Helsinki and Stockholm, the three Somali national associations in Sweden, Finland and Norway (Finnish Somali League, Somali Associations in Sweden and Somali Umbrella in Norway) have decided to create a common network called Somali Nordic Federation (SNF) (Somaliska Nordiska Förbund(SNF) ) located in Helsinki. The new network is launched at a seminar on the 20-21rst of October 2014 at Hanasaari – the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre in Espoo, Finland.
Preliminary draft program
Day 1: Monday October 20thh 2014
10.00 Welcome to the seminar
Opening
Gunvor Kronman, CEO, Hanasaari – the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre
11.10 Launching of a new Nordic network
Abdi-Nur Isse, Chairman of Somalisk Riks Förbund I Sverige not yet confirmed
Arshe Said, Chairman for Finnish Somali League
Session 1
Somali-Nordic Literature
Moderator:
11.40 Muddle Lilius, Independent resercher
Topic: Somali traditional literary forms
12.00 Lunch
Session 2
The role of Nordic Somali Diaspora for rebuilding a “new” democratic Somalia
Moderator:
13.00 Dr. Abdirashid A. Ismail, Helsinki University
Topic: Role of Diaspora
13.30 Kristina Helenius, C.E.O. for American Chamber of Commerce
Topic: “Globalization Diaspora-Chamber of commerce”
14.00 Pekka Haavisto
14.30 State secretary, Somali Ministery of foreign Affairs and investment not yet confirmed
Topic: Bilateral relationship between Somalia and the Nordic countries
15.00 Hanna Viitala, Programme Analyst, Finnpartnership Finnfund – Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation Ltd.
Topic: Finnpartnership, Finnfund and commersial projects concerning Somalia
Closing words for the first day
17.00 Dinner
Day 2: Tuesday October 21rst 2014
Session 1
Somali-Nordic design and architecture
Moderator:
10.00 Safia Abdi Haase
Topic: Somali-Nordic design and architecture
10.30 Adbukatir Warsame, Kungliga tekniska högskolan
Topic: Somali-Nordic design and architecture
Session 2
Social media and the challenges of youth radicalization
Moderator:Annika Forsander, TEM
11.00 Helsingin poliisin väkivaltaisen ekstremismin yksikkö, Jari Taponen, The Police of Finland
11.30 Imam, Helsinki not yet confirmed
Coffee and sandwiches
Press conference
More speakers might be included in the programme
Language: English
Participation is free, but requires a registration latest on the 10th of October
Organizers: Finnish Somali League and Hanasaari – for Sweden and Finland
Partners: Somali National Association in Sweden and in Norway Somali Umbrella (SPEN)
Sponsors: Nordic Culture and Hanasaari – for Sweden and Finland
Registration: through the webform on the Hanasaari webpage