ISSUE #9 | DADAAB EDITION | AUGUST 2016 THE RefugeeMAGAZINE
Featured Inside WHEN MALALA VISITED DADAAB Malala Yousafzai, the world youngest nobel peace prize laureate winner in Dadaab 7 UNIQUE AFRICAN CULTURES Take a glimpse into the uniqueness of the African people ARIDCULTURE Cheating Dadaab’s harsh conditions THE Refugee FROM THE EDITOR DESK
ife was never meant to be a spinning ball, rather a period CHIEF EDITOR of arranging and rearranging our choices depending on ISAAC ONYANGO the situations we are in. We make choices whether to seek education or bask in the bliss of ignorance, we choose to EDITORS L seek peace and cede conceit or to wade war and propagate JIMALE MOHAMED animosity. Every choice we make do not only affect our own PETER OKELLO lives but also those around us. Choices made by governments affect citizens. Choices made by parents affect children. Choices made by
Content WRITERS culture affect societies. ABDIHAKIM GURASE YUSUF SIGAD Malala Yousafzai, a young ordinary Pakistani girl at only 19 has literally MOHAMED JIMALE lived at the edge of her life making extraordinary choices not to better PETER OKELLO her life but to empower other young girls living in war torn parts of the ISSE ABDULLAHI world. A former student and a blogger for BBC Urdu in Pakistan, her own SUZAN MANGU story of struggles and her campaign for girl child education has yielded NIMO MOHAMMED the long overdue need for appreciation of girlchild education within the FATUMA ABDULLAHI refugee community. After several weeks of FilmAid video screenings FAHMO AIDIID and Girls First education programme trainings, many parents have had a change of heart and an empowered perspective to girl education. PHOTOGRAPHY Every year on the 20th of June, the world joins hands to take stock of the DENNIS MUNENE gains made towards the refugee situation which has become a global KEPHA KIRAGU problem with hundreds of thousands fleeing home every day due to ISAAC ONYANGO 2 10 14 war and conflict, politics or drought and famine. In Dadaab, this year’s Malala Yousafzai, the world When A Zande Son Is Born; Education Brought Me celebrations came a little different as the situation surrounding their DESIGN AND LAYOUT A Look Into The South To Dadaab: Nimo Abdi’s stay in the camp hang in the balance with the almost eminent closure. youngest nobel peace prize ISAAC ONYANGO laureate winner in Dadaab Sudanese Zande Tribe journey from Somalia Culture when a male child to Kenya in search of Despite the usual challenges of life and the tooth and nail struggles to is born Education eke out a living, refugees have enjoyed numerous opportunities ranging COPY EDITOR from education, vocational trainings, and scholarship opportunities NAOMI O’CALLAGHAN to countries near and beyond. These opportunities aimed at skills MAGU NGUMO development help the youth to get engaged constructively and be able 4 16 to even eke out a living from the skills gained. We capture the tales of PUBLISHER 11 a group of journalism and Film training productions students as they FILMAID INTERNATIONAL ‘I Fell Into A Well But Of healed wounds and World Refugee Day 2016: Get finally step out of classroom into the arena where they are able to tell Climbed Up Quick.’ dried tears: Making peace to Know Refugees, People the stories of their people. like You and Me A success tale of a man with her past and crying victim of circumstances for a change It is my utmost pleasure therefore to present to you our 9th read of The beyond his control Refugee Magazine, in it stories of triumph despite the bumpiness of life’s terrain presented by our FilmAid trained Journalism student reporters, writers and contributors. These are a group of media-skills equipped with the nose for the issues that affect them and their societies.
8 13 18 Peter Okello and Jimale Mohammed Aridculture; Cheating What The Future Holds Back It is systems go for Film Dadaab’s Harsh Condi- Home For Somali Youth: Training and Journalism tions What are the opportunities training programme available for the Somali graduands as FilmAid Youth once back? churns out another lot of creativestory tellers
www.facebook.com/therefugee www.filmaid.org/publications By Peter Okello “Today, I turn 19, and this year, I am here to speak for my unheard Topstory sisters of Somalia striving for education every day in the refugee camp of Dadaab. I’m so happy to celebrate with my STANDING #WITHMALALA>> sisters and congratulate them on graduating from the Girls’ First program which makes my birthday even more beautiful. My brave sisters here are committed WHEN MALALA not only to their own education - but to fighting for the rights of all girls to go to school.” VISITED DADAAB MALALA YOUSAFZAI When she turned 19, Malala Yousafzai the world’s youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner decided to blow the candles and cut the cake with the young girls in Dadaab refugee camp. The young Pakistani who formerly blogged for the BBC Urdu website under a pseudonym due to the risks posed by the Taliban, is now a global activist for female education and women’s empowerment. BY PETER OKELLO
midst Amidst defeaning ullulations and the with her, “we do not have quality education here neither do we have flicking of camera shutters Malala took the enough learning materials.” “We do not need all that, we only have to podium. This was the begining of an emotional work hard with what we have here in the camp and one day we can be speech delivered under the baking sun at the like Malala.” Juba Girls’ Centre in Dagahaley Dadaab. ( al ot of articles begin the same way and talk about the Monica Adhieu, a Filmaid facilitator voiced her amazement at what harsh conditions of Dadaab. This needs tob e Malala has achieved, “I am a lady and I love education. I am amazed at limited as it becomes very repetative. what Malala is doing. How she does her things; she is strong and assertive. A She was a child. Her love for education was beyond imagination and her “Today, I turn 19, and this year, I am here to speak for my unheard father’s love for education made him take his daughter to school.” sisters of Somalia striving for education every day in the refugee camp of Dadaab. I’m so happy to celebrate with my sisters and Monica noted that the FilmAid video screenings on Malala under the congratulate them on graduating from the Girls’ First program Girls First programme had yielded the desired fruits with many girls which makes my birthday even more beautiful. My brave sisters who had dropped out of school committing to go back to school and here are committed not only to their own education but to complete their studies. The change of heart had also been seen in fighting for the rights of all girls to go to school.” parents who now seemed more receptive to the idea of girls going to school. Malala’s fight for the rights of girls education back in her home country , Pakistan has been plagued by great risks and threats on Malala’s first visit to Dadaab refugee camp could not have come at a her own life and coming face to face with death when she was better time than now. It is evident that most parents had seen the light shot by a Taliban militant. This came as a warning to her, that she on the importance of education. “I believe in education, if my girls are should stop being vocal about women’s education or she would educated, they can manage themselves and their lives. I have girls who lose her life. are now in secondary schools and they are not married off yet. Early marriage takes away possible opportunities for girls.” said 65 years old Malala’s cause for girl’s education lead to her being nominated for Dero. and eventually becoming a co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for her struggle against the suppression of children and In the same spirit as Ziauddin Yousafzai and Tor Pekai Yousafzi, it young people and for the right of all children to education. would go along way if all parents would join hands amd support their daughters and son’s education ambitions to ensure they attain their life’s Malala had since then dedicated her life to advocating for free potential. education to all girls affected by conflicts and wars in various regions of the world stating that, “I am here to stand with you, as someone who knows what it’s like to flee your home in the middle “I am a lady and I love education. I am amazed at what of the night, as someone who knows how it feels to have your right to education taken away and your dreams threatened.” Malala is doing. How she does her things; she is strong and assertive. She was a child. Her love for education Aspiring to be like Malala was beyond imagination and her father’s love for “I want to be like Malala”, a young girl barely nine years old from education made him take his daughter to school.” Friends primary school in IFO confidently tells me, “Malala is a strong girl who fights for rights of all the girls in the world.” she continued. “You cannot be like Malala,” interjected the other girl Monica Adhieu
PHOTO: MALALA YOUSAFZAI 2 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 PHOTOThe Refugee BY: ISAACMagazine ONYANGO| Issue 9 3 WORLD REFUGEE DAY>> < everything that has been associated with the As the day went by, it was time for speeches to tag refugee. be delivered. Various heads of organizations and representatives stood up to voice their Kicking off the occasion was a well- continued support and goodwill to the Abaas Haidoebaigi coordinated scouting presentation by Amine refugee community. The key message would primary school scouting team who lead the then come in the form of an open letter “UNHCR will stand with gathering in a Somali national anthem with from the United Nations High Commission the refugee community and the mass standing up to honor the symbol of for Refugees (UNHCR’s) secretariat read by ensure their protection and national unity. UNHCR Head of Ali Njuqur Abaas Haidoebaigi who emphasized that the planned Dadaab safety. It is a journey we are This evoked deep emotions in many, notably, closure will be based on principles choice committed to, and we will Sahara Bare, 67 could not hold back her and human dignity. tears remembering the years gone by, the keep the engagements with years that Somali had peace and stability. I “UNHCR will stand with the refugee the government to find a cannot believe those years are gone by with community and ensure their protection humane solution to the camp the wind. “Our children have not known the and safety. It is a journey we are committed closure situation. Contrary peace we once enjoyed. It is so painful that to, and we will keep the engagements with most of them have not even stepped into the the government to find a humane solution to media narrative, we land of their forefathers,” she said amid tears. to the camp closure situation. Contrary to have received great support media narrative, we have received great from the government and After the emotional anthem, there came support from the government and we stand other cultural, peace and education themed here to respect their decisions. There is no we stand here to respect performances and dances from secondary forced repatriation, we are only repatriating their decisions. There is no and primary schools, Somali Bantu and the voluntary returnees.” Ethiopian gambella communities. forced repatriation, we are This year’s WRD key message, Get to Know only repatriating voluntary “Having lived here all my life, I am glad to Refugees, People like You and Me, was a call returnees.” celebrate this day, it is the only day we have it for the world to take a moment to look at the gives us a chance to come together and voice refugee situation to be able to understand our concerns to the global community on their troubles, and share in their joys as fellow issues affecting our lives and send a message human beings. home that we want to go back to our home,” said Issa Hasssan. PHOTO: WORLD REFUGEE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN HAGADERA STANDING WITH REFUGEES Having lived here all Due to the manner in which the refugees and the refugee status has been viewed with an undeserved my“ life, I am glad to indifference, this year’s WRD key message, Get to Know Refugees, People like You and Me, was a call celebrate this day, it is for the world to take a moment to look at the refugee situation to be able to understand their troubles, the only day we have and share in their joys as fellow human beings. it gives us a chance to BYJIMALE MOHAMMED come together and voice our concerns to the glob- lthough this year’s celebrations fell around an uncertain attention to the millions of refugees forced to flee their homes al community on issues time during which the government of Kenya has due to war conflict. expressed its plan to close down the camp, this is a affecting our lives and Acelebration refugees in Dadaab are accustomed to This is a day when the refugees get an opportunity showcase send a message home attending each year. In past years the celebrations have been attended their talents, their cultures and express their dreams to the world by a modest number of people, but the numbers today tip the scale. through songs, poetry, choral verses and stage skits on their that we want to go back Most faces are filled with enthusiasm and hope but some are lost in challenges. thought of what will become of them if the government holds onto its to our home, word to close Dadaab refugee camp. While some faces showed optimism in the hope of a positive message about the closure of the camp; possibly that the Kenyan Every year on the 20th day of June, the United Nations, activists and government had backtracked on the immediate closure of the PHOTO: SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS PRESENT A CHORAL VERSE DURING THE WRD peace advocates around the world come together to take stock camp, others had their faces blue with hope as grim as the rain of strides made with regards to refugee affairs and to draw global laden clouds. Others hated being called refugees because of 4 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 5 WOMEN EMPOWERMENT>> < in terms of education and schooling over the rights of all girls to go to school.” the past few decades compared to about two decades ago where there was a smaller Throughout her emotion laden speech she Malala Inspires percentage of women in schools pursuing pointed out the myriad of challenges that education, education other than being one girls and women continue to encounter and of the most critical areas of empowerment the significance of educating girls. for women, has offered some of the clearest Girls First Graduates examples of discrimination women suffer. BY ISSE ABDULLAHI Amongst the children not attending school Malala meets Rahma; a heroine there are more than twice as many girls as is made. boys, and among illiterate adults there are “One girl graduating today is my sister Rahma. similar figures as many women as men. Rahma has fled her home twice to come to Dadaab - once to escape conflict in Somalia Malala’s visit on her 19th birthday also and once to follow her dream of education. coincided with the graduation ceremony for girls who have benefited from the Girls’ Rahma first came to Dadaab as a young girl. Mentorship program spearheaded by When her family returned to Somalia, there FilmAid International to empower young girls was no school for her - so she came back here to pursue education and be the light of their alone, to finish her education. societies. There are many girls like my sister Rahma here Standing up to the ululations of the today. And I am here to remind world leaders “One girl graduating today is my sister mammoth crowd gathered, she movingly that all girls here matter. “ Rahma. Rahma has fled her home twice remarked, “Today, I turn 19, and this year, I to come to Dadaab - once to escape am here to speak for my unheard sisters of In her closing remarks she emphasized that conflict in Somalia and once to follow her Somalia striving for education every day in educating and empowerment is the only way dream of education. the refugee camp of Dadaab. I’m so happy to get out of the poverty beseeching parents to celebrate with my sisters and congratulate to stand for and support girls’ in attaining Rahma first came to Dadaab as a young them on graduating from the Girls’ First their full potential and rather than being the girl. When her family returned to Somalia, program which makes my birthday even impediments in this noble pursuit. there was no school for her - so she came more beautiful. back here alone, to finish her education.” “I urge people today, to join me in my My brave sisters here are committed not only campaign, that education is the right of all to their own education - but to fighting for girls, yes, all girls.” PHOTO: MALALA POSES FOR A PHOTO WITH THE GF GRADUATES he young girls themselves had not seen Me Malala screened by FilmAid International to the girls “My brave it coming. Not an iota of hope had laced as an empowerment tool. sisters here are their troubled souls that they would play committed not host to the youngest Nobel Laureate Motivated by Malala’s determination to not only pursue her education but also to advocate for that of other only to their own winner and global activist for Girls’ Teducation. less privileged girls around the world especially those education - but coming from parts of the globe that seem unconducive to fighting for They gathered chatting in small groups and to girl education, they braved the scorching sun of the covering their faces from the cameras. In white hijab North Eastern desert and the biting pangs of hunger to the rights of all covered heads, blue dera uniforms and dust covered be around and witness it for themselves the silver lining girls to go to feet they moved around the world’s largest refugee in their quest for education. school.” camp, a home to them, with the girl they have lived PHOTO: MALALA AWARDING ONE OF THE GRADUANDS A CERTIFICATE. LOOKING ON IS FAI -DADAAB FIELD MANAGER CHARITY KOLA (FAR RIGHT) to idolized since watching her in the Film He Named Globally, despite considerable progress for women 6 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 7 FOOD BASKET >> Does the farm produce enough for your family or earn you a sustainable income? ARIDCULTURE; CHEATING He calmly affirms by saying, “I have been a farmer for as long as I can remember. People come from all around Dagahaley to buy my produce for their daily household use and for reselling in the market. It sustains my family and now I DADAAB’S HARSH CONDITIONS don’t only depend on the monthly food rations.” BY NIMO MOHAMMED How do you water your farm given the low levels of rainfall PHOTO: MOHAMED MBERWA if any here in Dadaab? PHOTO BY: ISAAC ONYANGO I get my water from that borehole and fill the water tank, then using my fingers on this pipe, I create a pressure nozzle to sprinkle water around the farm. PLOWING THROUGH ASHES What are some of the challenges you face farming in this environment? BY WALTER MCDONALD “My main challenge are pests. They keep coming now and again and sometimes I am not able to control them before they destroy my crops. It has made me big After frost, grain-sorghum stubble losses. yellow as wheat Other than that, watering this farm is so labour intensive, especially under these hid pairs of pheasants hostile weather conditions. scattered on the plains. Thieves too have been visiting my farm harvesting my produce before I am ready Seven, eight times a season to take them to the market. This reduces my returns”. we searched the rows, shotguns stiff, dogs sniffing ahead, Do you have any future plans with your farming? and took our necessary meat. “Definitely. I plan to acquire a bigger piece of land and upscale my farming. I also intend to adopt drip irrigation as it requires less water and less labour.” After the last snow we torched the stalks, While there are evident challenges that might diverge hopes of farming in Dadaab, Mr Mohamed Mberwa’s successful farm is a clear sign of many hidden the orange flames opportunities that lie within the dry and dusty Dadaab. spreading like a prairie fire, covering the fields with soot. March, after the dirt cooled, my father plowed the charred earth brown again, like flipping a reversible jacket PHOTO: MOHAMED MBERWA IN HIS DAGAHALEY FARM seam by seam. Unless it rained, he ditched, At a time when many former farmers have retired after all this was a trade that had provided for him and his family for two weeks irrigated, due to the desert thorns, scorching sun and dust back in Somalia. He explored sustainable ways of irrigating his and in May clouds that cover Dadaab, Mohamed Mberwa, has farm and settled on setting his midsized farm next to a tap stand defied all the odds and set up a lush vegetable and it worked! he rigged the tractor up, A farm. His farm not only feeds him but earns him a lowered four worn plows living from wholesalers who flock to his farm to get In his 50 by 50 piece of farmland, Mohamed knows the best crops into the ground to grow that are resistant to the weather conditions. their stock. and planted grain. Mohamed arrived in Dadaab in 1993, and after so many years “I have in my farm different vegetables that are very adaptive to of depending on the food rations, he picked up his old hoe and this environment…I cultivate common vegetables like tomatoes, headed into what he thought would be just subsistence farming okra and tubers and roots like cassava and sweet potatoes. I also grow maize.” PHOTO: KALES/ SUKUMA WIKI FARM 8 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 9 < 10 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 11 INSPIRATIONAL>> < bdi Ismael Gedow did not grow could provide for his family to save them for neighbouring countries to seek safety. His up a happy boy. He did not from the pangs of hunger and risk of death. family that he had left behind were not left enjoy the bliss of his childhood behind in the search for safer haven. Having because of the dire lack in his It all went difficult but well until during lived away from his family for over five Afamily. It was so evident that they lacked one of his trips from Somalia to Kenya, he years without any form of communication even the most basic of human needs. got bitten by huge poisonous snake on between them, they had given up on ever right shin. The leg swelled like an inflated finding him again alive and so a symbolic Abdi was born and brought up in central balloon forcing him to walk with an aid of an burial ceremony had been conducted in his region of Somalia at a place called Guriel improvised walking stick. This incident would memory. where he started his primary school. He was cause worries to the entire team of travelling visibly a determined and ambitious young traders not only because they did not have It would take Abdi another six years to trace PHOTO: A YOUNG BOY WATCHES ACROSS THE FENCE IN DADAAB REFUGEE CAMP boy who showed dedication in his studies. an anti-venom for the snake bite but it also his family and in 1999 he got in contact with Unfortunately, his bright star would be risked the lives of the rest and could expose them to their shock and amazement. They dimmed by his family’s inability to pay his the whole convoy as they would not be able would later when they joined him in IFO school fee which forced him to eventually to move at a good pace to reach particular camp. Abdi is now a father to eleven children THE FUTURE IN THE PAST... drop out of school at class eight. night camping points in time. some of who have finished secondary school level while others are still in primary school. Looking at is life crumbling, Abdi The journey continued and two agonizing What does the future hold back home for somali youth? despairingly opted to leave home for the days after the bite, they got to Garissa where bush to become herdsman for pittance. After his comrades sought assistance from a Overcoming his disability three years herding and with some savings hospital oblivious of the fact that he was BY ABDIHAKIM GURASE he went back to his family in order to find a not a Kenyan and had illegally crossed into Him not being a man who would sit and beg for handouts, he sought the assistance wife and get married. Kenyan border. Fortunately, he was allowed had envisioned themselves pursuing their then come back to tell real life situation as of his clan mates to help him set up his own he future belongs to those who to fully receive the necessary medical education to fruition before contemplating is on the ground. Yet so far only a few of the With a growing family and exhausted savings business in order to fend for himself and believe in the beauty of their attention and later got transferred to the going back home to build the broken nearly half a million Somali refugees opted to and no opportunities for jobs, life would his family. With great determinations and dreams. Unless the dream cracks Dadaab refugee camp where thousands of structures. To them, the journey back home voluntarily go back home. prove so difficult for him and his family. Just other Somali refugees were hosted. apt business skills, he now runs a successful right before it gets shape. This is business in Ifo market. has come a little too premature. around the same time when the civil war cannot be further from the truth With the eminent closure, is there hope in erupted in 1991, he joined a cow trading Tfor the youth in Dadaab refugee camp who In an agreement signed between the Federal the debris left of Somalia for the returnees? company based in his home town working Amputated leg and “buried” stand with their backs against the shaky wall Republic of Somalia, The Republic of Kenya Majority of the youth having gone beyond as a merchant. They would travel from that has been the only home to them. and the United Nations High Commissioner basic education, some pursuing degree Somalia to Garissa on foot covering over alive Looking at his life crumbling, for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2013, a tripartite and diploma courses and some with High What if the camp would shut down today? 1000km of dry and desert land with neither On reaching Dadaab, he was registered as Abdi despairingly opted to leave commission was to be formed to ensure a school certificates while others are still in What if all their dreams would crumble from sufficient food nor water supply except for a refugee under the mandate of UNHCR conducive return process where there would underway in school, most have it that these home for the bush to become a single blow? Would there be time enough a few kilograms of dry rice and some small and was relocated to Ifo camp in 1993. be no coercion to return and ensured the Somali youth will upon completion of their herdsman for pittance. After for self-pity? Or there would be just enough jerricans of water. Unfortunately, due to an incurable infection returnees acted from an informed position studies be of help to their country; jumpstart to pick up the pieces left, dust and chart on the bitten leg, doctors would later three years herding and with about their repatriation. development programs and manage Despite the numerous challenges during forward to the destinations unknown? recommend that the leg be amputated. some savings he went back to diplomatic relations to ensure the horn of the trading trips where they walked through The UNHCR came up with a campaign his family in order to find a wife This is the predicament most youth in the African nation restores her lost glory. massive lands full of dangerous wild animals Around this time (1993), the civil war in to assure willing returnees a safe home Dadaab refugee camp currently grapple and poisonous desert snakes to finally face Somalia had fully covered all the corners and get married. to return to. The “Go and See Somalia When the President of Somalia H.E Hassan with given the dark cloud hovering over the the Kenyan military troops guarding the of Somalia and each day break, mases of Programme” was born where groups Sheikh Mohamoud made his maiden entry Dadaab camp; the eminent closure has cast boarder, Abdi would risk it all just so that he people would flee that horn of African nation of individuals visit Somalia to see for into the Dadaab to a roundtable discussion despair in the hearts of many a youth who themselves the situation on the ground and with the Kenyan Interior Cabinet Secretary 12 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 13 FEATURE>> < 14 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 15 PERSONAL FEATURE>> POETRY OF HEALED THE ART OF LIFE IS SOMEONE LISTENING? The taste of war is Is someone listening? WOUNDS The result of war How did I become a CHILD born in the land The victims of war And be not a DAUGHTER of the land? The misuse of power and If I stay in the camp I see my dreams trade for a loss AND DRIED Abuse of women and children And frustrations grow in my head like forest moss The kiss of a mother and If I take the road up North, toward the shrubs of Bura TEARS The gift of breast milk To the place my mum and dad once called home The tears of a child To the place before we were before we were called refugees The end of rain Which is wiser? Stick here or to take the jump WHAT WOULD TRADITION LOSE IF I WAS The pangs of hunger And lose all bones in one blow? NOT CUT? My mind tried to block. Tears didn’t flow. My body grew pale with The love of God If I hit the road down toward the big city terror. My mother was away; it seemed rather convenient that she The wisdom of mankind Misery would descend upon me like hail would not be around when all these were about to happen to me. The mission of charity I have no Kipande to prove that I am myself She had left the house as soon as we had left for school, I still feel it The sign of love was purposeful so that she would not live the guilt of having to look No road down west where the cool breeze blow into my eyes later and find questions she didn’t have answers for. The pulse of the heart My refugee status chains me within these fences Having made peace with the pains I went through as I was here, time was here, the knife was there and other circumcised a bubbly small girl ignorant of what was happening to girls were lined up so that we could inspect the parade and see for The humour of comics When I tune to the radio war grabs the headline her, I suddenly realize out of all the possible unanswered ourselves the “beauty” that comes with the cut. It is normal to look The sadness of laughter Reports of peace conferences marred by violence questions I could come up with, one bothers me the at fellow circumcised girls, culture permits the inspiration. “Are they The brightness of life No concord in the motherland going to cut me? Are they going to do this to me?” Visibly shaken, I The sense of thrill most, and it is because it painfully has an answer. What asked myself. And no sleep anymore in this land I was born would tradition lose if I was not cut? The victory of the champion Who is going to lend an ear? Who is going to listen? I was the first to be struck. My legs were tied. Other young girls BY FATUMO ABDULLAHI AND FAHMO AIDID stood around watching as I helplessly screamed. Pain was an understatement. I could not feel legs. My brain shut. I don’t remember The liberty of slaves What is worse, to shelter in the lack and debris of my country, what else followed but I stayed indoors for about four weeks unable The crown of peace Or to lie under the shelters of futile pursuits to do anything not even walk out to relieve myself. The robe of a king And no dreams at night? n my Somali tradition, any young woman who wishes to get married someday in a “dignified” way has to face the knife; removal When I got into my puberty, the changes in me as woman stated The monument of unity I know that if every glimmer of hope is shattered, of part of the female genitalia. If you opt not to be cut, you risk to manifest. I had painful menses. I had to seek corrective medical And the royalty of the kingdom I shall get back home ridicule and victimization from the society. You will be treated with attention and the stitches were removed. Such is the art of life But if the only way is OUT! hate and contempt. Hurtful taunts and scornful looks at the tap Istands will be your daily pains. I believe had I not been circumcised, I would not have had these That man sculpts his heart’s desires Let the out retain in us some little pride. taunting thoughts. And if a man someday asked for my hand in I was six years old when the striking knife came down on me. I still marriage, I would know it isn’t because I am cut but because he keep the vivid images of the whole ordeal in my head. I had gone to would have seen me as a good partner. By Brown Abdi school that day, my uncle and aunty came to our school for me. They By O. Omot drew me out of class and we headed home. A hapless girl, I was walked Contrary to the victim most people would expect me to look at myself home. Deep within I felt a cloud of fear envelope my whole body, this as, I am neither bitter nor angry about what happened to me. I don’t whole thing felt wrong but I could not free myself from the firm grip want to live my life giving satisfaction to the perpetrators of these with which they held my feeble hands. My day had come. But I was not vices against women and young girls. Circumcision does not add any alone. My elder sister was to be cut too. value or dignity to any woman. Young girls are getting maimed. There is no bliss in ignorance and lack of education. As young I was I had heard tales share by other young girls who had gone through the pain. The y called it horrible. It was unbearable and Just what would culture gain by causing harm to those it should inhumane. I did not want to imagine the pain I was about to undergo. unite? What would tradition lose if I was not cut? Nothing! 16 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 “This training has been a great experience for us trainees. Personally, it is a branch into another creative career path. Other than The master classes provided us with the tangible experience of how the film industry operates.” Ahmednoor Mohamed(Gesse) “Despite the challenges we face, living in refugee camps has benefited us immensely,” said Ojullu Peter. “You can enroll in schools of your choice, study from primary through secondary and even into university as long as you work hard and get good grades that qualify you for scholarships.” “I began my education here in the camp and have learnt a lot through life. The Journalism training gave me an opportunity to explore an area I was unaware of. Other than the skills I developed, the assignments kept me busy. Journalism knowledge and skills has changed me in a major way. I now look at myself as someone who should tell stories of issues affecting the youth in the society and not being one of the problems the society needs to rid itself of. I consider this an introductory course, in the future I want to be an important a renowned reporter like Richard Quest of CNN and even create my own brand as a journalist.” Peter said. In a predominantly Somali society, girls tend to shy away from competition against men. This was evident in the recruitment PHOTO: AHMEDNOOR-FILM TRAINING STUDENT FILM REELS CONTINUES IN THE NEXT PAGE & NOTEBOOKS IT’S SYSTEMS ROLL FOR FILMAID’S FILM AND JOURNALISM GRADUATES It is an hour into the basics of radio production class session, we are on homestretch with the journalism cousework. We decide to weigh the gains made by journalism students who have been undergoing the training program for the past 6 months. BY ISAAC ONYANGO AND PETER OKELLO. iving in the refugee camps provides limited options I want to achieve the highest level of for the refugees. If available, the opportunities are competed for and only a handful of people are able to professionalism in journalism. I want to get good benefit. This is because these avenues are provided on knowledge beyond what I have now. This is a donor funding basis which may vary and favour one Lproject at the expense of another. basic training but it has been a great eye opener for me. It is a foundation which I intend to build One of FilmAid’s methodology is skills development; training on further” Said Mahat Abdullahi. refugee youth on Film Making and Citizen Journalism skills each year. These youth are equipped with writing and film making skills to enable them to tell their own stories from their own perspectives. PHOTO: FILMAID’S FILM TRAINING AND JOURNALISM STUDENTS AFTER A SKYPE TRAINING SESSION “18 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 19 UPCOMING EVENT SKILL TRANSFER>> process where the number of female The essence of the program is to withdraw applicants was extremely low in comparison the power of the media from the to that of their male counterparts. professionals and hand it over to these budding film artists with the most clear “I am privileged to have gotten this understanding of their environment, their I want to achieve the opportunity,” said Fatumo Abdullahi. “I am plight and the hope sprouting in their highest level of profes- already enlightened in journalism practice. “ th dreams as refugees.. FilmAid 10 ANNUAL FilmAid has done great work in nurturing sionalism in journal- our skills. If I go back to my homeland now, I in collaboration with the African Digital hope to develop this voice to be able to tell Media institute as the external examining ism. I want to get good FILM FESTIVAL the stories of my people.” body, the students received master classes in all Film set areas; from pre-production to knowledge beyond “There are numerous problems facing post production and content distribution. what I have now. This is journalists in South Sudan. They are harassed, jailed, intimidated and censored and killed “This training has been a great experience basic training but it has almost every day. I have also heard that for us trainees. Personally, it is a branch into most journalists in South Sudan are not another creative career path. Other than been a great eye opener professionals and so they do not respect The master classes provided us with the to me. It is a foundation media ethics and media laws all together. tangible experience of how the film industry THEME With this knowledge of journalism I have operates.” said Ahmednoor, one of the Film which I intend to build gained from this training, I can, without training graduands. doubt be of help to my fellow journalists and on further” my country.” Susan Mangu, a 17 year South When the curtains are drawn on yet another Sudanese student. successful year of the Journalism and Film Where Training programme, it is the hope of FilmAid Mahat Abdullahi. The value of education and skills and all stakeholders that the skills transferred development is something that is well will benefit the graduates, and the larger understood by the youth in Dadaab. It is society. from this appreciation that most youth I am compete for the few available opportunities to acquire skills with the hope that it would Stories of the relationship between identity and the environment benefit them back in their countries or when resettled to countries abroad. As the news about the closure of the camp and voluntary repatriation back home keep gathering momentum, albeit with some fear, many youth are hopeful that when they are finally home they can help build their D A D A A B K A K U M A N A I R O B I respective nations with the skills acquired 19th-23RD SEPT 19th-23RD SEPT 3 RD-5TH OCT here in the camp. “Through this training I got an opportunity to interact with students from other countries and tribes. It was an opportunity to learn from, learn with and learn about others. Other than preparing me for a career, journalism provided me a great ground for About FilmAid and the Film Festival intercultural interactions,” said Ochalla. FilmAid is a development and humanitarian communications organization that harnesses the power and influence Film Training Program of film and media to combat critical social issues through the creation of multimedia content designed to inform, inspire and empower. The Film Training program nurtures film Every year Film Aid hosts a Film Festival {FAFF} that is aimed at creating awareness through films developed by host making talent and and equips the upcoming and refugee communities geared towards making practical impact on critical issues, from health, education, to filmamakers with the necessary skills to be human rights, conflict resolution and economic empowerment. By offering marginalized communities a voice on able to capture vividly the refugee stories. PHOTO: JOURNALISM STUDENTS FROM RIGHT GIRMA MOHAMED, ISSE ABDULLAHI, HUSSEIN ALI DURING the issues that affect them, these programs enable self-advocacy and self-determination. The six-month continuous program targets A CLASS SESSION WITH PETER OKELLO refugee and the host community youth within the Dadaab Refugee complex. FIL MAID FILM @filmaidkenya Filmaid International FESTIVAL 20 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 The Refugee Magazine | Issue 9 21 HAVE YOUR ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN OUR NEXT PUBLICATION Deliver your articles to our offices at Windle Trust Compound in Dagahaley, Care compound in IFO or Hagadera DRC Community centre opposite IRC hospital. A gift of the US Government The views expressed in this publication do NOT represent that of UNHCR, PRM, FilmAid, or any other partner unless otherwise stated.