VOA常速英语2015--索马里连锁酒店业主努力营造新局面(在线收听

Somali Hotel Chain Owner Strives to Make a Difference 索马里连锁酒店业主努力营造新局面

MOGADISHU—

Many in the Somali diaspora are returning home to make a new life despite the continuing risks.  Since 2011 when a military campaign against Al-Shabab militants began making progress, members of the diaspora community have come back to open hospitals, schools, hotels, restaurants and other businesses.  The owner of a chain of hotels and restaurants who is helping to bring change to the once-deadly Somali capital.

虽然风险仍在,但很多海外索马里侨民纷纷回国开始新的生活。自从2011年打击青年党激进分子的军事行动开始取得进展以来,索马里侨民纷纷回国开办医院、学校、酒店、餐厅和其它生意。美国之音记者在摩加迪沙采访了一位连锁酒店和餐厅的业主,他正在帮助曾经是一座死城的索马里首都恢复生机。

Along the Somali coastline sits the Jazeera Beach Hotel, one of the finest beach resorts in Mogadishu.

在索马里的海岸坐落着半岛海滩酒店(Jazeera Beach Hotel),这是摩加迪沙最高档的海滩度假地之一。

It is part of The Village hotel and restaurant chain, owned by Ahmed Jama. Originally from Britain, many in Somalia now refer to him as Ahmed Village because of his thriving businesses. A chef by profession, Ahmed enjoys cooking for his ever-increasing customers.

这是“村庄”(The Village)连锁酒店及餐厅的一部分,所有人是艾哈迈德·贾玛(Ahmed Jama)。他最初来自英国,因为他生意红火,很多索马里人如今叫他”艾哈迈德村”。厨师出身的艾哈迈德喜欢为他越来越多的顾客亲手烹饪。

He recalls the risks he took coming back to invest in a country once regarded as a failed state.

索马里一度曾被视为失败的国家。他回忆了回国时的风险。

“When I left my restaurant business in London, everyone was surprised. When I opened up a hotel at Jazeera beach everyone was also surprised. But now it’s evident that all who followed my lead and invested back home have changed the narrative. And we look forward to more developments for Somalia in the near future," said Jama.

“我离开我在伦敦的餐饮生意时,”他说,“人人都吃了一惊。我在半岛海滩开酒店的时候,人人又吃了一惊。不过现在很明显了,那些跟着我走、回国投资的人,如今说法都变了。我们期盼着在不久的将来,索马里将有更多的发展。”

With Somalia's thriving fishing industry, Ahmed’s clientele are assured of a good meal at any of his chain of hotels across the capital.

索马里有着兴旺的捕鱼业,所以,艾哈迈德的顾客在他位于首都各地的连锁酒店,肯定可以美美地吃上一顿。

A major source of employment, Ahmed has hired scores of Somalis to work at his establishments.

艾哈迈德为解决就业作出了贡献,在他旗下雇佣了上百索马里人。

“In this restaurant alone, I have 58 employees. At least 20 others work at my other restaurant in Hawa Tako. I have employed more than 100 people in Mogadishu alone. I have opened up a beach restaurant in Hobyo that has more than 20 employees. This is something I hope to expand all across the country if security prevails," he said.

他说:“仅仅在这座饭店,我就有58名雇员。我在哈瓦塔科的另一家餐厅雇了至少20人。仅仅在摩加迪沙,我雇的人就超过了100。我在霍比亚开了一家海滩餐厅,有20多名雇员。如果安全持久,我希望在全国各地扩展业务。”

Ahmed’s restaurants in Mogadishu have been attacked numerous times by extremists. But this has not deterred Ahmed, who instead urges other Somalis in the Diaspora to return home.

艾哈迈德在摩加迪沙的各餐厅遭到极端分子多次袭击。不过,这并没有吓倒他。他反而敦促别的海外侨民回归故里。

“It is human beings who create both conflict and peace. So as to develop Somalia, we shouldn't be afraid. It's wise if we come back and invest here instead of elsewhere. Those you offer employment opportunities to will help in creating peace and stability. The instability and challenges will come to an end one day, so it is best we stay and invest here," said Jama.

他说:“冲突与和平都因人而起。所以,为了发展索马里,我们不应该畏惧。我们回来,在这里而不是别的地方投资,是明智的。那些你给了就业机会的人会帮助建立和平稳定。动荡和挑战总有一天会结束的,所以我们最好还是留下来,在这里投资。”

In 2013, the Somali government launched the Office for the Diaspora Affairs. The agency has been holding a series of conferences with Somalis across the globe in a bid to increase their involvement with the East African nation.

2013年,索马里政府开设了侨民事务办公室。侨办与全球各地索马里人举行了一系列会议,鼓励他们更多投身于这个东非国家的建设中来。

Ahmed Jama’s case is an example of the brave hearts who have returned to Somalia and are slowly changing a nation that was once mired in anarchy, but is now slowly settling down, and reviving.

艾哈迈德·贾玛的经历是一个例子。他和其他的索马里侨民毅然重返故土,慢慢改变一个曾陷入无政府乱象的国家,帮助索马里渐渐稳定下来,恢复生机。

  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/voastandard/2015/5/306040.html