SOMALIA

1. SOMALIA I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.Martin Luther King, Jr. “Canadians Understanding Other Canadians!”

2. MAPS Somalia

3. SOMALIA’S POPULATION STATISTICS Population 9,558,666 Area 637657 sq km Population Density 15.0 people per sq km Birth Rate 44.12 births/1,000 population Death Rate-15.89 deaths/1,000 population Rate of Increase 28.23

4. Living off the land A Somali meat market Sheep fat is used to treat a variety of ailments Somali Marriage dance A class room in Somalia

6. SPORTS  AND  RECREATION SOMALIA Children usually spend their time playing outside. Children's games include versions of skipping, hopscotch, jacks and a type of hide-and-seek that can cover a lot of territory. Boys love football (soccer), volleyball, table tennis, basketball and games with home-made cars. Girls have more duties around the home and less opportunity to play outside, but they enjoy basketball, home-made dolls or dancing with each other to the latest music. CANADA Ice hockey is Canada’s national game. Children learn the sport when they are very young, playing on local rinks or playing ball hockey in their neighbourhoods. Canadians enjoy watching professional football, basketball and baseball. Soccer is becoming increasingly popular, and many Canadians follow the World Cup with great excitement. THE WORLD OF WORK CANADA Most Canadians work in the service industries as teachers, clerks, salespeople, doctors, nurses and restaurant workers. The service industries have grown dramatically over the past four decades. Over the same period, the percentage of people who farm, fish, mine or log has decreased. Most jobs require employees to work about 35 hours a week. Traditionally, employees worked 9 to 5, Monday to Friday, with Saturday and Sunday as holidays. This is no longer the rule. Some people can choose the hours they work. Some people do shift work. Some people work from their homes and "telecommute" by sending their work to the office electronically. An increasing number of Canadians are self-employed and set their own hours. Canadian employees and employers often contribute to employment insurance and retirement plans. Employment insurance helps people who have lost their jobs by providing temporary income. Women are considered equal to men under Canadian law. Women make up 45% of the work force in Canada, and all careers are open to women. SOMALIA Almost 75% of the Somali population - one of the highest percentages in the world - makes their living off the land, either in agriculture or herding. Even urban Somalis are likely to have family in the country and have experienced the traditional Somali way of life. Over the centuries, Somali herders adapted to breeding livestock in a vast area without any source of permanent water. Every clan has its own herding routes, which during the course of a year allow herders to take their herds from one seasonal waterhole to the next. Sheep, goats, cattle and camels are common livestock animals and still Somalia’s main export. Camels are the most important animal; able to survive dry seasons better than any other animal, camels also serve as sources of milk and meat, and carry portable shelters as well as the elderly and the sick. Facts about Somalia & Canada

7. A LOOK  AT THE PAST CANADA The coming together of the colonies in British North America. Three colonies were made into four provinces. These were Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. They became the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867. The other provinces and territories joined later. SOMALIA On June 26, 1960, British controlled Somali land gained independence, closely followed by Somalia gaining independence from Italy, on July 1, 1960. The two newly independent states amalgamated and formed the Somali Republic with Mogadishu as its capital. CLIMATE SOMALIA Rain and drought dominate much of Somali life and all the four seasons: gu, hagaa’, dayr and jilaal. The rainy gu season, from April to June, is the most pleasant time of year in most of the country, though floods can ruin crops. The dry hagaa’ season (July to September) is the hottest time of year; the red, dusty soil can be bare of all vegetation, and temperatures average 27°C, but can reach 65°C. Hagaa’ is broken by the dayr rains in October and November. In general, northern Africa is becoming more desert-like every year; droughts have been increasing in frequency and severity. CANADA Canada's climate is not as cold all year around as some may believe. In winter, temperatures fall below freezing point throughout most of Canada. But the south-western coast has a relatively mild climate. Along the Arctic Circle, mean temperatures are below freezing for seven months a year. During the summer months the southern provinces often experience high levels of humidity and temperatures that can surpass 30 degrees Celsius regularly. Western and south-eastern Canada experience high rainfall, but the Prairies are dry with 250 mm to 500 mm of rain every year. FAMILY LIFE SOMALIA Somalis often live in extended families. There is no strict hierarchy in the home, though fathers are usually considered the heads of their families economically and women as the heads of the household. While women are by no means considered equal to men, the traditional Somali love of freedom and self-expression means that women speak their minds and exert much power at home. Somali parents and children tend to spend time with friends of the same sex; the family may get together in the evenings. CANADA Canadians value family life, but "family" means different things to different people. For many, it means a mother, a father and one or more children. However, in 13% of Canadian families, there is only one parent. Some families include grandparents, cousins or other relatives. Other families consist of two men or two women living together, with or without children. Sometimes adult children continue to live in the family home, rather than starting households of their own. Facts about Somalia & Canada HOLIDAYS SOMALIA Somalia’s most important festivals are religious. Probably the most important is Ramadan, which marks the month that the Koran was revealed. Since the Muslim calendar follows the lunar cycle, Ramadan occurs at a different time each year. Somalis decorate their homes with lights and flowers before Ramadan begins. All adults and children past puberty mark the month by fasting during the day. At sunset, families gather for afur, the breaking of the fast. CANADA Christmas and New Year’s celebrations are important to Canadians. They offer a break during the cold, short days of winter. People decorate their houses with lights, green branches and images of Santa Claus. Although Christmas is the celebration of Christ’s birth, many non-Christians also enjoy the event. Most Canadians gather to decorate a Christmas tree, share a turkey dinner and exchange presents. Québécois celebrate Christmas on the evening of December 24 with reveillon. Families go to midnight Mass and return home to find that Santa Claus has visited. They open gifts and enjoy a large meal together.

8. HEALTH CARE SOMALIA Health conditions in Somalia are poor. Globally, the country has one of the highest rates of malnutrition, both in children and the general population. Infant mortality is high, at 126 per 1,000 live births, and life expectancy is low: only 47 years on average. Particularly during the dry season, the population is afflicted by outbreaks of cholera, a potentially fatal disease caused by unsafe water. Insect-borne diseases like malaria and Rift Valley Fever are also problematic. CANADA Canadians are very proud of their comprehensive health care system. Medical services are available to all citizens. Regular visits to the doctor and hospital stays are largely paid for by the government. Many employers sponsor additional health insurance plans for their workers. Advances in preventive care, medicine and safety allow most Canadians to live long, healthy lives. Canadian girls born in 1995 can expect to live 85 years on average and boys can expect to live 75 years. There are public health programs for vaccinating children against diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, and polio, and programs to inoculate seniors against influenza. Public health programs also include health education for children and teenagers. EDUCATION SOMALIA Officially primary school is officially compulsory and lasts eight years. The curriculum includes instruction in basic subjects, plus agriculture and animal raising. However, very few children attend school. Providing education for nomadic peoples has been especially difficult, as herders who wish their children to complete school must send them to a permanent settlement. As well, children in both herding and farming families often must work at home. CANADA Public education is free until the end of secondary school. Some provinces require children to buy their own textbooks. Most provinces have a kindergarten program to prepare children for Grade 1. Elementary school is from Grade 1 to Grade 6, 7 or 8. Secondary school or high school continues to Grade 12. Facts about Somalia & Canada

9. SPRITUALITY CANADA There is no state religion in Canada. However, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms recognizes the supremacy of God and grants freedom to all Canadians to practise the religion of their choice. More than 80% of Canadians are Christians. Some attend church every week, while others attend only on special occasions, such as baptisms, weddings, funerals and Christmas. There are many Christian denominations in Canada. SOMALIA Islam and poetry have been described as the twin pillars of Somali culture. Over 99% of Somalis are Muslim, mostly Sunni Muslim; a small minority is Christian, both Anglican and Roman Catholic. Despite the influence of religion on daily life and culture, many Somalis are not strict adherents of their faith, but follow only some of the more important rites. Muslims recognize one God, Allah, and Muhammad as his prophet. Muhammad is believed to be the last in a line of prophets that included Abraham, Moses and Jesus. FOOD SOMALIA Somali cuisine reflects the people’s clever use of scarce resources. People usually begin the day with a flat bread called canjero or laxoo, liver, and either cereal or porridge made of millet or cornmeal. The midday meal is the largest and consists of rice or noodles (pasta became very popular under Italian rule) with sauce and perhaps meat. The evening meal is very light and might include beans, muffo (patties made of oats or corn) or a salad with more canjero. Somalis adore spiced tea, but sheep, goat and camel's milk are also popular. CANADA Traditionally, most Canadians would have at least one daily meal of meat, potatoes and a vegetable. Improved transportation and the influence of immigrants have changed the Canadian diet. Grocery stores today stock foods from around the world. Pizza, pasta and spicy rice or noodle dishes are now favourites. Increasing numbers of Canadians are vegetarians. Canadians eat three meals a day. In some households, breakfast includes pancakes, eggs and bacon and hot cereal. People in a hurry are more likely to eat cold cereal, toast or a muffin with coffee or tea. Lunch is usually a light meal. Most people eat soup, a sandwich or a salad. Dinner, also called supper, is the largest meal, and is usually eaten early in the evening. The biggest family meals are those served at Thanksgiving and Christmas, when turkey is usually served with cranberries and stuffing. At Thanksgiving the traditional dessert is pumpkin pie; at Christmas many people serve Christmas cake. For some Canadians, life is too hectic for daily family meals around a table. COMMUNICATION SOMALIA Somali is an extraordinarily rich and expressive language, and poetry is a national passion. Though Somali is the official language, it has many dialects. The most prominent is the Digil/Raxanweyn dialect spoken in the south; this language is very different from standard Somali, though most dialect speakers also know both. Many Somalis also speak Arabic, which is taught in schools as part of Islamic instruction. Older or university-educated Somalis may also speak English or Italian. English classes have recently become more popular in cities. CANADA English and French are Canada’s official languages. All Canadian government documents are written in both languages. Federal courts operate in French and English. Translators and interpreters work in Ottawa to ensure Canada’s parliament functions in both languages. All goods sold in stores must be labelled in French and English. Facts about Somalia & Canada

10. DID YOU KNOW! A 14th century travelogue by Ibn Battuta praises the city of Mogadishu for its size, wealth and beautiful handmade cloth of red and yellow. DID YOU KNOW! An 8th century Somali theologian named Shaykh Uthman bin Ali al-Zeylai wrote the only authoritative text on the Hanafi school of Islam. His book is called the Tabayin al-Haqa’iq li Sharh Kanz al-Daqa’iq. Its four volumes are still in print. DID YOU KNOW! Some nomads drink a fermented beverage called chino, which is made by burying camel’s milk in a leather flask for a week. Did You Know this about Somalia? DID YOU KNOW! Children of nomadic herders usually take care of the animals. Boys are responsible for their family’s camels, which must be fed and milked three times a day, while girls tend the sheep and goats. DID YOU KNOW! Traditionally, age in Somalia is calculated by the number of gu’s a person has lived. Gu is also normally the peak season for marriages, contests and dispute settlements. DID YOU KNOW! The Samaal people’s possessions must be quite light in order to be easily transported. Families use mattresses made of woven palm-leaf ribs, which are supported on four wood stakes and covered with animal skins. DID YOU KNOW! After a marriage, Somalis hold dances for three to seven consecutive days. DID YOU KNOW! Sheep fat is used to treat a variety of ailments, from rheumatism and broken bones to chest pains and tainted blood.