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SOMALI SMOKEOUT

The Somali Smokeout program, coordinated by Marian Ghedi, seeks to control smoking in Columbus' fast-growing Somali population. The Somali Smokeout contains three sections:

1. The program runs after-school life skills session for Somali youngsters called "Life Skills." The eight-week course takes place at several housing communities with large Somali populations. About 200 Somali youngsters went through the program in its first year.
2. Somali Smokeout also hosts smoking cessation groups for Somali adults called "Freedom from Smoking." The adult program reached 30 in its first year.
3. Finally, it prepares anti-smoking literature in the Somali language and provides Somali translation services for the 1-800-QUIT-NOW, Ohio's anti-smoking hotline. The Somali Smokeout also visits Somali cultural events to pass out literature.

All of the programs are run by native Somali speakers trained at Columbus State.

Columbus' Somali population is estimated at around 45,000, making it the second-largest Somali population in the country outside of Minneapolis. The community has high levels of smoking and childhood asthma, which is aggravated by secondhand smoke.