Services

SBYAM was established to provide Somali Bantu families and their children with opportunities to safely navigate cultural and generational divides. The primary goal of SBYAM is to create and foster community-based programs that would help Somali Bantu youth learn the necessary skills to overcome challenges that they face in the communities of Lewiston-Auburn in Maine.

The Somali Bantu Youth Association of Maine:

1. Encourages youth to stay in school, and achieve academic goals by providing academic help.
2. Develops comprehensive programs to enhance the daily lives of youth by participating in sports, music & dance programs.
3. Educates about sexual harassment, and sexual, physical and emotional abuse.
4. Prevents violence by teaching conflict resolution through cultural education training.
5. Assists with social and cultural adjustment.
6. Preserves the traditions and culture of Somali Bantu youths with programs and activities that honor their heritage.
7. Promotes anti-tobacco, substance abuse and underage drinking workshops.
8. Provides awareness programs for subjects such as HIV/AIDS.
9. Helps find gainful employment for youths and their parents.
10. Provides traditional one-on-one and group counseling services.
11. Urges and assists youths to earn their GED and/or high school diplomas, and to seek vocational training when possible.
12. Provides Juvenile justice system education for parents and youth.
13. Provides literacy and citizenship classes for parents and youth with limited English.
14. Provides financial literacy class for parents and youth
15. Provides Parenting class for parents.

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The Somali Bantu Youth Association of Maine is a 501(c)3 status

©The Somali Bantu Youth Association of Maine