Migration and the Making of Leicester; The Somali Community in the City

Somali migration to Leicester began in the late 1990s, and took off in the early 2000s. While many of those who arrived were former refugees who had initially settled elsewhere in the UK, the majority were EU citizens who moved from Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, among other countries. They were drawn to the multicultural character of the city, and by the expectation that they could practice their religion freely. The community settled mainly in St Matthews, with some also settling in Highfields. The speakers will reflect on the lived experiences of the Somali community in Leicester, the challenges they had to overcome and the contributions they’ve made to the city.

The speakers are Jawaahir Daahir, former CEO of the Somali Development Services with over 20 years of experience working with migrant communities in Leicester; Julian Harrison who’s the former Lead Officer for community cohesion and human rights at Leicester County Council with over 25 years’ experience working on community engagement and development; and Abdishakur Tarrah, director of Aqoon Education Services with over 18 years’ experience in providing educational support to young adults and children of migrant backgrounds. Chaired by Dr Idil Osman.

This event is part of a series of events called 'Migration and the Making of Leicester'. For further information on the series, please visit our website https://le.ac.uk/migration-making-leicester

You can register for the main launch event here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/migration-and-the-making-of-leicester-tickets-302856440767

Host or Publisher University of Leicester