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Today is
10-09-2010
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Becoming Active Citizens
Two Cultures, Two generations, What should be done?
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Hammersmith Town Hall on the 12th July, 2010
The meeting started at 5.30 p.m. with a general introduction and thanks to the audience for attending the conference.
The Conference was chaired by Najeb Mahajer, advisor to the Vice President of Afghanistan, and Dr. Said Akbar Zeweri, former Afghanistan cultural attaché in London.
Mayvand opened the conference stating that the Afghan community in the UK was growing. In 2001/2 there were 5,000 Afghans in the UK. Now there are 100,000, of which 65,000 are from the younger generation. They are the key to integration in a multicultural society such as the UK. At Hammersmith and West London College 600 Afghan students are studying. This shows the positive aspect of Afghan society in the UK. However, there are some negative aspects. For example a group known as the Afghan Badboys might cause future problems to the Afghan community.
The hope is that younger Afghans will become active members of the community through interaction with the local communities in the UK, together with involvement in political, economic and social activities. In 2004 the Afghan Youth Council was formed by Mayvand in the UK. He also has initiated contacts with the local police. In September 2010 a course has been arranged for young Afghans to learn about the British Parliament. Such work is crucial to the integration of young Afghans in the UK. He expressed concern that such initiatives were not raised at international conferences. He wants young Afghans to become the most active of the ethnic communities in the UK.
N. Mahajer, Adviser Vice President Afghanistan.
Immigration and its effects, a phenomenon in the structure of families and its members, thatremains focused in minds of many social sciences and sociology researchers as an important subject.
One of the important effects of immigration is its cultural effects on mental (health) of families and youth that have grown between two cultures and often faces crisis in describing themselves.
Saed Zerweri (Former Afghan diplomat and journalist)
expressed gratitude for the subject of the meeting being raised. He said Afghan youth need guidance to avoid slipping into extremism, terrorism and crime. Successful integration into the local community will avoid such problems
Part 1 – An overview of existing issues and its aftermath
Fazil Kawani (Refugee Council).
His concern was the forced return of refugees, particularly unaccompanied children, to Afghanistan by the UK Government during a time of war. He also said there was concern about the UK economic recession, and the impact funding cuts would have on refugee organisations and communities. He stressed that refugee communities must make a positive contribution to the UK.
Hameyoun Tandor. (Afghan Ambassador to London)
He expressed thanks for receiving an invitation. He found it difficult to know where to begin, but asked who comprise the younger generation? Different countries have different cultures. The UK is the only country which accepts it is a multicultural society. Was it right that the younger Afghans are raised in a foreign culture? If they are integrated in the UK would they be able to re-integrate in Afghanistan? He did not feel that the current generation of young Afghans in the UK would return to Afghanistan as they will lose their identity. Therefore, the focus should be on integrating them into the UK. He stated that it was the older generation of Afghans who caused the problems of younger Afghans in the UK. His message to the younger generation of Afghans is to remember their Afghan heritage. They should aspire to the highest levels of achievement.
Tony Hirst (Head of local policing)
The local police wanted to improve engagement with the whole of the local community. The intention was that the police would approach local communities rather that wait for them to approach the police. They wanted to have representatives at all local meetings. Engaging with the local community will help in reducing crime and anti-social behavior. Using modern technology the police want to contact local communities via e-mails and mobile telephones. Other ways to deal with problems are through the volunteer programmes, working with the police to break down barriers, and acting as Special Constables. There is also the police cadet service, which is open to young people from 14 to 18 years of age, where they learn about citizenship and engage in outward bound activities. The police are always open to ideas coming from the local community.
Part 2 - Family and domestic atmosphere
Shad Haibatan (Hammersmith & Fulham voluntary sector)
They are involved in registering charities and fund-raising. Also they run the supplementary schools network, involving after schools activities. They help to retain the cultural values of the countries of origin of refugees and immigrants. The Government has indicated that overseas aid will increase despite the economic recession in the UK, which should benefit countries such as Afghanistan. One of their primary objectives is community engagement which encompasses social needs, crime, anti-social behavior and extremism.
Shref Folad (Former Afghanistan Ambassador to Pakistan)
He thanked Mayvand for encouraging young Afghans to integrate in the UK. He said Pakistan Muslim leaders had encouraged extreme Muslim views and terrorism. In addition others have become criminals and drug addicts. There are also problems with forced marriage, poverty and family breakdown. There should be organised social events to help with integration in the UK and so avoid extremism. Afghans in the UK should integrate with other Muslim groups in the UK to further the retention of their identity. Language classes should be undertaken in national and local languages.
Zarghona Rassa – British Afghan Women’s’ Society
She reiterated all of the problems previously mentioned which face refugee communities. Her society was set up in 2001, this being a London-based charity. They have a website where information on all of their activities can be viewed. She stressed that Afghan girls and women should be active within the local community. Voluntary work is essential to entail integration and assist in obtaining employment. Funding is a problem all staff are voluntary. The economic recession in the UK may have a negative impact on their work.
Asif Khormi (Former Afghan diplomat and journalist)
Afghanistan has been involved in wars in the past three decades, which has destroyed much of the county’s infrastructure, and created pollution. This has meant that the Afghan people have not been able to achieve their aspirations. He is in agreement with previous speakers who blame the older Afghan generation for the failure of the education system in Afghanistan. He stated that the émigré Afghan communities cannot speak or write their native language. Older Afghans expected the younger expatriates to return to Afghanistan and rebuild the country. Despite funding problems he recognizes that the local Afghan organisations in the UK have done a good job. Mutual respect will solve many problems.
The Chairman, Saed Zerweri, took note of all the previous speakers and thought that there should be a declaration of intent made at the end of the conference. Migration can be beneficial to the host community as well as to the migrants and refugees. Younger Afghans are sometimes confused as to which culture to adhere to. Integration can be mutually beneficial.
Part 3 – Young generation; Drugs and other crimes; citizenship
Tayeb Aryan (IOM)
The IOM was established in 1951. They have various programmes for the Afghan community. To help refugees refused asylum, and to help with finance and resettlement. In addition they help with unaccompanied minors. They have regional offices in various parts of the UK. He thanked the Afghan Council UK for helping him to integrate in the UK and to become successful.
Zobaida Sakandary (former lecturer in Kabul)
She said that the Afghan community in the UK was here because of war not through choice. They have to become good citizens in the UK. Young Afghans have to decide if they want to come from Afghanistan to the UK.
Zia Shahreyar (BBC)
He said that there was a big divide between the first generation of Afghans in the UK and subsequent Afghan generations in the UK. The younger generation of Afghans in the UK have different aspirations and ideas which conflict with those of the older Afghans in the UK
Tamanna Rahimi (Student at King’s College, London).
Asked what does it mean to be British? She said many of the Afghans in the UK have little or no ties in Afghanistan. Also the older generation have a mythical view of Afghanistan, which is contrary to their upbringing in the UK.
Horia Masadiq (Amnesty International – Expert/Researcher)
She said Afghan culture teaches love, respect and honesty. Afghanistan was the first country to arrange that a United Nations convention condemned violence against women. Afghan women obtained the vote in 1919 which was before many western countries. (Note - In the UK women achieved equality in voting rights with men only in 1928, although women over 30 received the vote in 1918). She teaches her children that they should return to Afghanistan to teach peace. The younger generation of Afghanistan only knows violence, terrorism and war. They should be taught the positive aspects of Afghan culture. Western media did not publicise these positive aspects of Afghanistan. Feuds between drug gangs exacerbated the conflicts in Afghanistan.
Gulam Muhaidin Balchtiaz (Former Afghanistan senior police officer who traveled from Germany for the conference).
He comes from the older generation of Afghans. His views come from the story of his life, past, present and future. He said whilst people complain of problems in Afghanistan they are the creators of these problems. People concentrate on bad things instead of good things. The younger generation of Afghans should make the older generation of Afghans proud of their achievements. He thanked Mayvand for arranging the conference.
Mr. Mahamed Karim (Chairman Harrow Afghan Association)
He said that most of the Afghan community on the UK does not create problems for the police, but this should not lead to complacency. The family has a crucial role in teaching their children the correct values. It is important that a message is sent to politicians in Afghanistan that they should solve their problems in order to encourage young Afghans in the UK to go to Afghanistan. He pointed out that Afghanistan is a multicultural society. British values can help Afghans. Thanks to Mayvand for his work.
Conclusion by Dr Yousef A Rahimi (Consultant Psychiatrist Berkshire NHS;
The scientific study of other communities might highlight common problems relevant to the Afghan community in the UK. Studies have shown that the second generation of ethnic communities suffer mental illnesses not suffered by the first generation. Is racism a factor or are there other causes? Economic recessions can exacerbate the problems of refugee and migrant communities. It is difficult to answer all of these questions and the problems raised. There are no scientific answers to these matters.
Question and Answer session
One questioner asked why there were not younger Afghans in the meeting.
A psychologist from the audience questioned the study cited by Dr Rahimi concerning mental illness in minority ethnic communities. He felt this was based on the western point of view.
Mr. Zerweri from the Chair commented he found it interesting that the younger Afghans in the meeting challenged the views expressed by the older generation of Afghans.
Another question from the floor of the meeting was what can the older generation of Afghans do to communicate with the younger generation of Afghans? Dr Rahimi said the older generation in Afghanistan is more adaptable than those in the exiled communities. Afghan children in the UK should not be brought up in the same way that their parents were.
One young woman said that the older Afghans in the UK are changing. She also said that the Afghan Badboys had come to the UK as unaccompanied children and had no role models. They were seeking an identity.
Mayvand said he had established Refugee TV for the Afghan community. He had obtained the information about the Afghan population in the UK, quoted earlier in the meeting, from King’s College.
One speaker requested more meetings like this one.
A final comment from the Chairmen was that the Afghan community in the UK needed more attention.
Mayvand thanked all of the people who had helped him in setting up the meeting, particularly Mr. Mahajer and Mr. Zerweri.
Award of Certificate
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