ASLI and Ahmed Case Study

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  Journal Video Asli and Ahmed

  The this video Journal follows my thoughts and feelings towards the case study below it also my thoughts and feelings are based on authoritative literature inclduing text books and journal articles so please enjoy and if you have any questions or you want to talk to me more about the casestudy please contact me on twitter @Johto_88 Thanks 

  
  

  Case Study Asli 19 year old female 

  Refugee from Somalia

  Asli left Somalia with her Mother, her younger brother Ahmed, her Mothers sister and two cousins after her Father and elder bothers were kidnapped and are now feared dead.   They lived in refugee camps in neighbouring Ethiopia for 8 years, in this time Asli's Mother died.   Eventually the family were granted humanitarian visas by the Australian Government and moved to Brisbane. Another Aunt and Uncle who live in Brisbane agreed to sponsor them. Asli was 14 years old, her brother Ahmed was 11. They now live in Moorooka with the Aunt and Uncle as well as her other Aunt and cousins who lived in the camps with them.  Asli and her family follow the Muslim faith, they attend Mosque regularly and follow religious traditions.  

   Asli attends Yeronga State High School and enjoys learning, although finds it difficult as her schooling was very disrupted in the camps.   She is trying to complete year 12 and hopes to enrol in a Certificate of Community Work at TAFE next year.   She also works part time at Target. Asli is strongly connected to the Somali community in Brisbane.

  Two months ago, while walking home at 9 pm from a late shift at Target she was attacked and raped. She now believes she may be pregnant.  Asli has told no-one about the attack, she is afraid it will bring shame on her family. She thinks they would believe she should not have been walking alone so late. She is particularly afraid of her Uncle's reaction; he sponsored Asli and her brother, and at times will use that against them. She has been traumatised by the attack and it has bought back memories of the violence of the camps and the horrors of her Father and brothers disappearance. She had believed that in Australia she would be safe. Asli has not sought any medical or legal help following the attack.

  She has come to you after finally telling one of her friends at school who was concerned at the change in Asli over the last couple of months. Asli doesn't want to talk to anyone from the African community.
• Housing

  
  

  Despite your very best efforts to support Asli in getting a pregnancy test, she has not done it, she is simply too afraid. But, she is also concerned that if she is pregnant it will be discovered, therefore she can’t stay at her Uncle and Aunt’s house. The house is also very crowded and she is unable to study. She does not want to ask anyone from her community for help due to the possible pregnancy. She is receiving Youth Allowance and works part time at Target but cant afford private rent, so is looking to move into supported accommodation.  Asli wants to move with her brother, he is 15 years old. He and their uncle clash a lot and Asli feels it is her job to look after him, she has taken on a parent role with him since their mother died despite being only a few years older.
• Crime

  
  

  Asli brings Ahmed to see you, he was picked up by the police following a violent clash between African and Anglo young people at the train station. Ahmed wasn’t involved, he was picked up while walking home unaware the fight had happened. This is not the first time he has been questioned by the Police over nothing. Ahmed got very angry with the police and abused them, he is now facing charges over the incident.
• Education

  
  

  Asli, without having a test discovers she is not pregnant, she is relieved, her delayed period was likely to be due to the trauma of the attack.  She is thinking about talking to her Aunt about it but she isn’t sure yet.

  Asli’s has always had trouble with school, years in a camp doesn’t provide a good educational foundation. However since the attack and with her concern about Ahmed her school work is really suffering. Her teachers are supportive to a point, but she is in year 12 and has to keep up if she wants to pass. Failing is not an option, her Uncle would be very angry, especially as she is the eldest and the first to go through school.

  Ahmed is increasingly not going to school and is hanging out now with the boys from the train station incident. Asli covers for him when his Uncle questions him about how he’s going.

  Despite the pressure from her Uncle, Asli is pleased she did not move out, especially given how Ahmed is travelling.
• Employment

  
  

  Asli comes to see you as she is worried about her job at Target.  Asli has been employed as a casual for almost 3 months and has been seen as a good worker, her boss has even commented on her approach to work. Because Asli has been really struggling at school and getting behind in her schoolwork she has knocked back a couple of shifts recently so she could focus on catching up and getting ready for upcoming exams. This week she rang to see what shifts she was on and was told they had not rostered her, that it was obvious she wasn't interested in working there anymore. Asli is devastated at the thought she might have lost her job, she enjoyed the job despite the juggle with schoolwork, and the family need the extra money she brings in. 
• Health

  Ahmed comes to see you, he didn’t know who else to go to. He confides in you that he is worried about Asli, he hears her crying out in the night. He starts to talk about his memories of the camp and the way Asli looked after him, protected him. He is shaking as he talks, his words come haltingly. He says Asli shielded him from some of the worst things, but he remembers that she was sometimes taken away and came back very quiet, she cried out in her sleep then too. Ahmed gives you permission to tell Asli he has spoken to you. You have been wondering if this conversation might come, and how you might handle it. That night (not for the first time with these two) you lose sleep.
• Leisure, culture, public space

  
  

  It has been a big week, you have been having some conversations with Asli that you find really challenging. There is a Somali community festival on the weekend. Asli invites you to come. She will be working at one of the stalls but is happy for you to drop by and say hello. A few of you from work decide to go. At the festival you see Asli at the stall, she looks happy, more relaxed than you’ve seen her for a while. Seeing this reminds you how important Asli’s community is to her and you wonder how you can work with her to talk to them about her nightmares and even about the attack. You notice a few support services have stalls, so you collect some info.

  You also notice that Ahmed is not there, as you leave you see him and a few other African young men sitting around the corner. They appear to be drinking, you decide not to approach him.
• Technology

  
  

  Asli comes to see you; she is really upset and angry. She has just received a $680.00 bill for her mobile phone. She tells you she has always been really careful about using the phone and really only carries it for safety. She had thought the bill might be a mistake until she realised that Ahmed had been using her phone and the calls were his. She is really angry at Ahmed and has no idea how she can pay the bill, especially since she isn’t working.  She also shows you some texts on there that Ahmed has written that concern her.
• Ending

  
  

  While you feel reasonably confident in your capacity to work on the issues that keep coming up for Asli and Ahmed you know there are much deeper issues that have not really begun to be addressed. You have mentioned QPASTT before but Asli and Ahmed haven’t been keen to follow it up, Asli has been worried about community and family finding out.

  However Asli is recognising that she needs counselling, that the night terrors aren’t going to go away. So together you have made a referral for her to the QPASTT counsellors, she asks you to go with her to meet them. They acknowledge her concerns about people knowing what’s going on for her and try to allay her fears. After that first visit you see that Asli has made a connection and she is happy to go back.

  After the festival Ahmed’s Uncle realised that Ahmed was not doing well. Ahmed tells you his Uncle talked him into signing on to the QPASTT soccer team, hoping it will give him something to do and maybe meet some other friends. Ahmed has been training and tells you he really likes it, and that some of the other boys have been through similar stuff. Ahmed also thinks he might go to the homework club, but isn’t sure yet.  Ahmed's court date has been postponed, Ahmed tells you he has told his Uncle about it and he will go with him. Ahmed is still hanging out with a couple of boys from the train station crew but not as much, he’s pleased his Uncle didn’t throw him out for drinking and doesn’t want to disappoint him by getting into trouble again. He says his Uncle told him he might get locked up if he's seen with the boys from the station.

  You reflect on this past two months and all the work you’ve done together; and all that these two have given you. You know that they have a long road ahead but feel very privileged to have been part of the journey.