Why is the exchange focused on Somali families as opposed to families from other cultures?
We are uniquely situated in the state which is home to the second largest population of Somalis in the U.S. with population ranges estimated at anywhere from 20,000 to 70,000. This makes our community an especially unique case study. While the region has also attracted many other immigrant groups, including Asians and Latinos, the Somali population is still largely misunderstood because of their relatively recent, concentrated, and large-scale migration to Central Ohio. They’ve come here mostly as refugees, escaping from a war-torn region rife with tribal and international disputes. As such, their situation warrants extra attention and compassion and their needs differ from that of other communities. People with other ethnic origins have expressed interest in participating in the exchange. CCWA may adapt the program in the near future to accommodate their participation. For now, however, we have focused our attention on the Somali community and hope to find willing families from this g
