Programs and Services: The needs of our refugees dictate the types of services the organization provides and the programs it offers. The following is a list of the current and potential services and programs of the SBCA:

Housing assistance: Emergency housing in case of eviction, help search for renting house assistance and referrals for first time renters, Employment assistance: job training skills and referrals, English as a second language (ESL) classes, US Citizenship classes, Advocacy and referral services: providing links to other community resources, Interpreting and translating services, Recreating Programs for the youth; Family and youth counseling; Working with other refugees communities; Organizing and holding community gatherings, festivals; All other appropriate services needed by the community. Somali Bantu Community Organization provides community services to the whole Somali Bantus in Central New York.Services provided are many but not limited to: tutoring, volunteering, transportation, advocacy,translation/interpretation and case management. The Somali Bantu Community Center Will be the focus of all activities and services the association provides for its members. 

Tutoring ESL classes for adults, men and women, and after school help program for students from pre-k through high school. These services are provided on voluntary basis and the location has been donated by one of the community members to help the community with a learning space. The Location is Dr. King Elementary School, 416 E. Raynor Ave, Syracuse, New York 13202. Days/Times: Saturdays from 8:30am – 11:30am as proposed. The tutoring classes run for three hours long. The  started date of the Program was from September 14th 2007 to present.

Teen Tutoring Program and Mothers and Children English Class are held at the community center. The Teen Tutoring Program ( TTP) starts at 5:30pm - 7:30 pm on Monday nights and the Mothers and Children English class starts at 10:00am - 12:00pm on Mondays.

The activities are running slowly now due to lack of funds or enough donation. So far, the Bantu Community has fifteen volunteering tutors/Interpreters, two tutoring Aides and twelve volunteering drivers to transport students back and forth from their homes and to the learning Center. About 165 students have registered for class so far. The Community member’s demand for education is fairly high since most of the members did not get access to formal education system. The association is welcoming volunteers who are very kind to help our Community members towards achieving educational goals. The administration of this program will require an estimated of 20 percent of the association’s time.

The Somali bantu Community Organization is planning to have: After School Program ; Somali Bantu children and their parents did not have a schooling opportunity before coming to the USA. They are graded based on their age not academic level. The need to help the child develop language skills and an academic background is essential to the future of the children. The program has the following advantages:

• Appropriate environment and culturally beneficial.
• Bilingual staff in English, Maimai, Mzugua and Somali languages
• Emphasis on academic success for children grades from Pre-K through high school graders.
• Parents are pleased with the program and they take adult ESL classes while the children are busy learning something.
• Substantial change in the students' performance is highly expected.
• Building students’ confidence is highly expected.

Summer program for only school going students is proposed to be done once a year during Summer time to give extra help to the School going children. The administration of this program will require an estimated of 15 percent of the association’s time.

Community meetings, held 3 times per year, draw 40-60 people and are used to inform the community about the association’s activities and to hold elections for officers and votes on key issues. The board holds bimonthly meetings to conduct routine business on the day -to day functioning the organization. But since the space available is small, meetings will be held 3 times per year, draw 10-20 people. All administrative activities will take place at the community Center. Administration of the Center will require an estimated 10 percent of the association’s time.  

The need for orientation, transportation and brokering for New Arrivals. The transition to American life for Somali-Bantu people presents linguistic, economic and cultural challenges that can seem overwhelming without assistance. Government services to new arrivals are limited in scope and duration, and do not ensure self-sufficiency. The association, through the volunteer efforts of its membership, provides a variety of service to new arrivals to ensure a successful transition to American life, which improve opportunities for self-sufficiency and economic security.

Case Management/Interpretation services

The Association has over 15-25 Interpreters/people who provide transportation, interpretation and advocacy for members to medical and social services appointments, parent-teacher meetings, Jobs-plus, and work. These services are provided in a very limited way by resettlement agencies and the School district but do not fill the needs of the Bantu Community. With the Association’s help, members are able to access community services, participate in their children’s education and comply with their TANF work requirements. All resources for this program are donated in-kind by association members. This program accounts for 50 percent of the association’s time.

Social and Cultural Activities

The Somali-Bantu Community Center will provide space for the community to gather for weddings, engagement ceremonies, funerals and yearly cultural festivals Ramadan and Eidul-Fitr. These activities will take place at the Center.

As the Bantu community matures, case management and cultural orientation services will gradually be replaced by services intended to improve economic opportunity for the association’s members, and security for the community’s families. These activities will focus on a variety of education topics including literacy, health, work readiness, home economics, safety, domestic violence prevention and child care training. Parent advocacy volunteers will work on with parents and teachers to assist parents in monitoring and participating in their children’s education.

Case Management and Assessment: SBCA Resource Center will provide comprehensive one-to-one counseling and assessment. Case workers will assist individuals and families on issues related to basic needs, such as affordable housing, immigration services, driver's instruction, aging services, and youth services. Each year, SBCA is willing to provide one-to-one counseling and to families.