By Miriam Raftery. April 9, San Diego βInside the Safari Market bazaar, a Somali woman sells bright-colored beaded head scarves, jewelry and rugs. Two dozen vendors offer other wares and services. Nearby, African Spice restaurant serves up savory sambussas pastry shells filled with meats, vegetables and African spices , succulent fish, lamb, goat, and an aromatic tea seasoned with cloves.
Safari Market also sells groceries, such as large bags of cinnamon and rice, some labeled in Arabic. The Safari center has created jobs for East African refugees, mostly women. Now it's become a model that is being replicated in other U. An estimated 30, East Africans now call San Diego their home, incuding some 15, to 20, Somalis. He fled his homeland in Ethiopia because of fighting in the war-torn region. Ibrahim is fortunate to have just been granted asylum in the United States, a status granted to those who a court finds would have their lives endangered if they were sent home.
It is a temporary haven for those who come here alone, with no family here to help them. Ibrahim, who has learned to speak English in just a short time and hopes to soon find work. He marvels at having free and open access to a computer at Project Refuge. Attracted by San Diego's sunshine, many Africans ultimately wind up leaving for other areas with manufacturing jobs such as Texas, Tennessee, or even Minnesota, where chilly winters contrast sharply to the warmth of the immigrants' native lands.
Horn of Africa aspires to help African refugees and asylees become productive members of society by teaching them business skills, with costs now shared among all immigrants leasing space in the central bazaar reminiscent of the places they once called home. There are also services, from a barber shop to a money-wiring outlet. The Safari Market bazaar is located at 54th Street, not far from San Diego State University's college area, and is open seven days a week from 8 a.
Opened in June by Horn of Africa Community with help from numerous grant funds, the center helps the community of first-generation African immigrants remain connected to their homeland, while also revitalizing a run-down section of El Cajon Blvd.
