WEBVTT

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My name is Amal Ahmed,
I work as a TV producer.

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My name's Omar Deria, 
I'm a head teacher.

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- My name's Mariam.

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I work for Evolve
as a liberal practitioner.

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- My name is Awale Olad.

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I'm a local counsellor in
the London Borough of Camden.

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- My name is Dr. Mohamed Abdi.

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I'm a GP working in South London.

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[inquisitive piano music]

NOTE Paragraph

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- I was at the Guardian.

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It was the time where piracy...the 
Somali piracy broke actually in Somalia.

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And as I remember, I was the only 
Somali person

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at the whole organization.

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Though I was completely in
a different department, it was in IT,

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I felt like I had a burning passion
to tell the story of the community here

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in UK, and what they feel about what

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they've been seeing in the news
all the time.

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-There's almost half a million Somalis in the UK

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and that's still growing, and it's critical that

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people of African descent, in particular,

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have somewhere they can call a home.

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And if we have a place we can call a home

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it means that we have to be able to decide
what happens to our local area.

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I feel that anybody from
every walk of life can be susceptible

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and is exposed to exploitation.

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It doesn't matter your socio-economic 
background, your religion,

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your faith, your location –

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It's something that's prevalent
in many communities.

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And I feel that my work is prevalent 
in supporting young people

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and decreasing the risk of exploitation

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and in theory, creating a safer world.

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I've always loved education. I've always 
loved supporting and helping children.

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I was told when I was a kid
that I wasn't bright enough...

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to go to university, so I should 
get a job in a warehouse.

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- Having come here as a Somali 
refugee to the UK,

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that I had to learn the language, we 
had to learn the culture,

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we had to integrate.

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I had to go through the struggle through
high school, A levels, being told that

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you can't make it as a doctor.

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- I made a promise that when
I become a teacher,

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I will accept the positive influence
on children

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which I didn't get 
when I was in school.

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- To me, it's always been a dream of mine
to be a healthcare professional.

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Especially coming from a culture
where helping a community,

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helping a society is so important.

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I decided that I really wanted to be a doctor.

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I want to give back to the community.

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[piano fades into soft synth music]

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- From my experience,

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a lot of people don't actually
understand the Somali community.

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They don't understand our needs.

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I got into this role because it 
was critical

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that people like me, and 
the family I come from,

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and the community I come from,

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have a voice, locally.

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And having someone like me in a room 
where ideas and policies can be ...

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discussed, which means that a different perspective
comes along.

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- I know my cultures and I know my people,

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And I know what's happening; it was so
interesting to see

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what does the Somali community 
here in UK feel about

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how the news is portraiting
their own country?

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Especially for the young generations 
who're trying to find their identity,

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they're trying to find who they are.

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They feel they're British, but at the same
times, you know, they're Somali,

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and they're embarrassed being Somali
because of what's happening in the news.

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- As a Somali person, I thought I think 
representation is important

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in merging the gap.

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In Somali culture, there is a lot
of taboo and shame

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with regards to being in care, or social
services, exploitation, gangs,

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and I feel like there needs to be more Somalis
involved in social services and exploitation

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to help bridge the gap
and help those who are in need.

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- As a Somali head teacher, I really feel 
that I'm a- I'm a role model

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for - for the younger generation.

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I speak to parents, I speak to children,

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I often engage in dialogue with parents

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and I give them the information they need
in Somali, which is extremely important

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for their...for their wellbeing.

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- You know, I'm very fortunate. Every day,
when I go to work,

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I meet people from different communities,
especially my community,

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the Somali community, because
having worked as a doctor for many years,

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I've seen that, often, people from the
Somali community don't get the same care.

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And it's because of language barriers.
Stigma.

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We need doctors from all communities to 
give back to the communities

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that we serve.

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- I believe it's so important to tell 
your own stories.

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To be that access gate to your community

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where you will be the voice 
of your people.

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In every story, there is two sides,

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and that is why we're gonna 
bring the link

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between you and the other communities,
people will understand you more

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and they will know exactly
what's happening.

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[soft piano music]

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- It's really...really an interesting,
challenging, intriguing role,

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being a local counsellor.

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You try and transform the counsel 
from being a closed-off body

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to one that actually wants to listen 
and learn and become a better place

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and become a...
a positive place for local people.

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And I think it's very important to be part of the change that you want to see in the world

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and be involved from the inside,

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and sit at the table to make decisions.

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- Teachers play a crucial role in 
developing the next generation.

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If you believe in children, and you
nurture them the right way,

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the sky's the limit for them.

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- Growing up here, and 
contributing to the society,

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to tell the people, you know, I'm more
than what you see on TV.

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As a Somali person, there is more into us,

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you just need to give us a chance
and - and listen.

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[soft piano music]