Keynote Speaker: Marian Gedow
Marian Gedow has been a vital contributor to the refugee relocation programs in the upstate area. A Somalian refugee herself in 2000, she found herself fleeing her home country because of destruction in her town due to civil war. Before this event, she earned a scholarship to Italy, and then a Master's degree in 1988 from the University of Rome. After teaching economics at the University of Somalia for three years, she returned home to find her house completely destroyed. She and her two sons walked 70 miles to their grandparents’ home, where she joined an NGO to help with humanitarian relief.
In 1992 she founded an NGO of her own, focused on aiding women in fighting famine. She opened an elementary and middle school for girls, and traveled to share with the world the news of the tragedy occurring in Somalia.
She began to aid the United Nations in relocating refugees with her skill at speaking four languages. She helped 300 families, totaling 800 people, to resettle in the United States.
Following a great deal of refugee assistance, in the early 2000s she became the case manager at the Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement office in Syracuse.
The civil war in Somalia has raged for 18 years, and there is no peace still. After visiting Mogadishu in December of 2006, she reopened the school building she had created. This school educates about 200 young girls. The flower sale money we receive for UNYMUN 2009 will go toward assisting Marian Gedow in further funding her efforts in refugee assistance and education for the girls of Somalia.
We truly appreciate her taking the time to come speak with us about her experiences and her work, and hope all attending UNYMUN 2009 will assist her in her cause.