A Career in Healthcare for Somalian Refugees in Dadaab

Context

More than 340,000 Somalians fled the civil war and sought refuge in northeast Kenya in the Dabaad camp. Millions of other migrants left their towns to seek refuge in other regions of Somalia. All live in very precarious conditions with limited and even quasi-nonexistent access to secondary education. After 25 years of civil war, Somalia now has a more stable government that makes it possible to envision the progressive reconstruction of the country. The Kenyan government decided to accelerate the closure of the Dabaad camp and the repatriation of the refugees to Somalia. One efficient humanitarian avenue for allowing refugees to return to their country and participate in rebuilding it is to provide them with a recognized education that can open the door to employment or to advanced training.

Project

This project is for young refugees and internally displaced Somalians who have completed secondary-level studies. It provides a fundamental theoretical education curriculum in healthcare as a complement to locally-organized practical training. The education program culminates in a certificate recognized by future employers and allows them to practice as a nursing aide, pharmacy aide, or laboratory aide. Accreditation will be provided by the University of Geneva and the University of Somalia. The project is piloted by the Inter-Faculty Center of the University of Geneva (InZone) in partnership with UNHCR, the Somalian Ministry of Health, the University of Somalia, and the regional office of the WHO.

project managers

Professor Barbara Moser-Mercer, Honorary Professor, Interpreting Department, University of Geneva.

Professor Antoine Geissbuhler, Head Physician of the Division, eHealth and Telemedicine Division, Imaging and Medical Information Sciences Department, Geneva University Hospitals.

With the help of