Monday February 20, 2023
Minneapolis (HOL) - Dekow Sagar, a former refugee from Somalia, has been recognized as one of the Most Outstanding Young Omahans of the 89th class by the Omaha Jaycees for his exceptional achievements.
The Omaha Jaycees is the oldest young professional organization in America.
Sagar's journey from a village in Somalia to the United States has been inspiring. He recalls the fear on his parents' faces during the Somali Civil War and how militiamen beat his father with rifle butts, an event that left an indelible mark on his memory.
After his family escaped the Somali Civil War, they spent 16 years in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya before moving to the United States with just a seventh-grade education. Since then, Sagar has worked tirelessly to create opportunities for himself and other refugees. He has earned several degrees, including a Masters in Public Administration and an MBA.
Sagar has also authored a memoir titled '
Life in Exile: The Untold Story of Civil War and Refugee Life,' in which he shares his compelling story of growing up in a rural village in Southern Somalia, his harrowing escape from the civil war in the 1990s, and his life in the United States after being resettled. He hopes to encourage other refugees to share their own stories so that people can better understand their plight.
Sagar currently works as the Executive Director at the International Council for Refugees and Immigrants (
ICRI) in Omaha, a job he describes as his dream and passion. Previously, he worked on grassroots advocacy and community organizing at the Lutheran Family Services.
Individuals receive these awards by performing selfless acts of kindness while excelling in their professional careers. All recipients were nominated by their peers and selected by a nine-judge panel.
The winners were recognized at the annual banquet held on Thursday.