Somali Refugee in Dadaab hopes to use education received to contribute in rebuilding his country

“Education, for some people is the norm but for me, it is everything.”

24 years old Aden, dreams of becoming a doctor, once he goes back to Somalia. © UNHCR/ Mohamed Maalim

By Mohamed Aden Maalim, Dadaab Kenya  |  28 Nov 2019

Thatched house, skimpy fence and loosely hanging clothes greet you as you walk into Aden Ibrahim’s shelter where he lives with his elder brother and his family. The twenty-four-year-old high school graduate in Dadaab’s Ifo refugee camp, is among refugees who have beautiful dreams despite unavailable and or diminishing resources.

“Education, for some people is the norm but for me, it is everything.”

Aden, a Somali refugee, barely 3 years old at the time, arrived in Kenya in 1995. Since then, he has lived in Dadaab refugee camps where education is free, thanks to donors. He completed both his primary and secondary education in the refugee camps.

“Education, for some people is the norm but for me, it is everything.”   I know I will get the opportunity to study further and become a doctor,” he says

UNHCR Kenya Representative, Fathiaa Abdalla talks to Aden, who has plans to return to Somalia, after living in Dadaab for 21 years. © UNHCR/ Mohamed Maalim

The education sector in Dadaab refugee camps constitutes pre-school, primary, secondary, adult literacy, special education, accelerated learning, vocational training and scholarships for tertiary education. The schools follow the Kenyan curriculum. The three camps have a total of 22 pre-school centers, 22 primary schools, 9 secondary schools, 5 primary accelerated learning centers, 9 Alternative Basic Education (ABE) centers, 4 vocational learning centers commonly known as Youth Education Packs (one of them in Dadaab town for refugees and youth from the host community), three adult literacy centers, and three libraries.

“In primary school, I used to love science classes and in high school, I loved biology, history and English,”  explains Aden.

I believe with the education I have received, I will be able to get employment

After being ravaged by explosions and recycling violence, Somalia is slowly rebuilding itself and although he does not remember much about his beloved country, Aden believes that he is ready to take part in the process.

“It is time to move on,” he says. “I believe with the education I have received, I will be able to get employment with the help of my uncle who lives in Somalia.”

The soft-spoken Somali refugee, however, vows to never give up on his dream of becoming a doctor.

“For now, I am planning to go back alone but once I find employment and can take care of my brother and his children, I will ask them to join me.

Aden (right) discusses his hopes with Febian Gouttefarde, French Member of Parliament (left) and French Ambassador to Kenya, Ms. Aline Kuster-Menager (centre), during their visit to Ifo refugee camp © UNHCR/ Mohamed Maalim

Recently, Aden met with the French Ambassador to Kenya, Ms. Aline Kuster-Menager and French Member of Parliament, Febian Gouttefarde, who were on a visit of Dadaab refugee camp, and shared his wish to return to Somalia, after getting free education and living as a refugee in Dadaab for the last 21 years.