Category: Civic Education

Call for Champions Leadership Program 2024

June 18, 2024 bareedo Leave a comment All, Bareedo Core, Civic Education, Democratisation, Youth Promotion Awareness Rising

Background

Somalia has one of the world’s largest young populations, with 75 percent of its population under 30 years old. While young people represent the majority in Somali society, continuing unrest, conflict, and socioeconomic and political exclusion have left them with psychological wounds and multiple roadblocks to adulthood.

This leadership training challenge is part of the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Fellowship Program, a flagship project supported by NELIS—Next Leaders’ Initiative for Sustainability. The Fellowship Program aimed to equip one million NexGen leaders and social innovators with the required skills to lead positive and sustainable change in their regions by 2030.

Many young people in Somalia lack the critical thinking and leadership skills necessary to develop into better adults because ongoing unrest and conflict have demoralized them, leaving them with psychological wounds and numerous obstacles to adulthood.

Engaging and empowering young people is a prerequisite for the UN to deliver on its mandate in support of the Somali people. As a result, a number of global and national frameworks shape the UN’s integrated response in support of Somali youth. Youth leadership development is crucial for fostering future leaders and empowering young individuals to make a positive impact in their communities. This proposed training initiative aims to develop effective youth leadership programs by exploring strategies and best practices that can enhance youth’s leadership skills and abilities to inspire positive change in their communities.

Why join the Youth Leadership Program?

Participating in the Youth Leadership Program will equip you with leadership and critical thinking skills, enhancing your ability to influence and contribute to socio-economic development within your local community as a productive and inspired citizen. This leadership program aims to boost your potential to contribute and open up broad network opportunities, while also building your capacity to contribute and implement sustainable community programs in communities.

During the program, you will undergo 3 weeks of extensive training to prepare you for your role as a program facilitator, coach, and change maker. After training, you will have the opportunity to participate in community support initiatives.

Are you a passionate and driven young leader looking to make a difference in your community? Are you between the ages of 18 and 30, living in Somalia,  who is highly motivated to cause change in their lives and the lives of their communities?

Join the leadership program in collaboration with the OML-MENA Fellowship Program, NELIS: The Next Leaders’ Initiative for Sustainability. The MENA Fellows Leadership Challenge is proud to announce that applications are now open for the Youth Leadership Program in August–Sep 2024. This transformative initiative aims to equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and creativity needed to drive social change and foster entrepreneurship leadership in their communities.

Eligibility

  • Age 18–35
  • Have an interest in personal development and leadership.
  • Traits of a problem solver
  • Having a personal vision
  • Passion to make a positive change in the community, particularly pastoralist communities
  • Have access to a basic smartphone or laptop and possess basic computer skills.
  • Demonstrated leadership and passion for community development and entrepreneurship.

How to Apply

Click this online link https://forms.gle/ybKjb83YWT8b1hRY6 and fill it with all required information regarding your interest in the participation of the program.

Deadline for Application: 30 Aug 2024

Workshop on Building Inclusive Democracy for Displaced People in Puntland, Somalia

March 5, 2024 bareedo Leave a comment All, Bareedo Core, Civic Education, Democratisation

Bareedo Platform conducted a one-day workshop on Building Inclusive Democracy for Displaced People in Somalia on Monday, March 4. A total of 48 participants from different regions of State of Puntland in Somalia, including some from Las’anod City (Khaatumo Administration), representing local nonprofit organizations, and some from government institutions, participated in the workshop.

Mr. Sharmarke Yusuf and Mr. Abdikhayr Hussein, two senior members of Bareedo Platform Somalia, facilitated the workshop.


“This is a platform developed by People Powered, the Global Hub for Participatory Democracy, and a consortium of local and national organizations, which the Bareedo Platform includes. There are about six courses on the platform, and all are available. But we are going to focus on and study the course Building Inclusive Democracy for Displaced People.” Said Mr. Sharmake Yusuf

The participants introduced the online platform which they only needed to sign up by clicking the green button, put their basic information in the box, and start the learning journey.


The participants were introduced to and engaged in online self-paced training courses collected on a knowledge platform developed by People Powered and a consortium of local and national organizations where all relevant stakeholders and individuals can learn more about how to make participatory and deliberative processes more inclusive. The participants engaged in one of the six courses on the online learning platform, which is “Building Inclusive Democracy for Displaced People.”


The Bareedo team provided the participants with guidance as they signed up and registered at Building Inclusive Democracy Online Training, following a brief informative introduction session about the online learning platform courses and how to access the platform. Through a well-designed online Displaced Course, the participants learned about displaced people worldwide, defining the specific terminologies for the familiarity of the course. The participants learned the term “displaced,” which stands for different groups of people.

Throughout the introduction of the course, there were particular examples of Somalia’s displacement of people, related policies, and national strategies, as well as participants engagement in participatory discussions regarding the strategies to include in participatory and deliberative processes.


The participants were asked to present their understanding and experience of the term displaced. Mr. Abdikhayr Hussein, who has strong experience in displacement and has worked in the sector, briefly shared the different groups that fall under the term displaced.

“There are about three displaced groups: IDP, refugees, and immigrants. The first group is the internally displaced people, who are people forced to leave their homes but who remain within their country’s borders. The second group of refugees are people who have lost the protection of their country of origin and who cannot or are unwilling to return there due to a well-founded fear of persecution. The third group are immigrants, who are people living in a country other than that of their birth.” Said Abdikhayr Hussein


As part of the course contents, they also discussed the challenges and promising solutions, including the case studies regarding the inclusion of displaced people in decision-making and the possible outcomes of the total inclusion of displaced people. The participants discussed the deliberative process of total inclusion of displaced people in decision-making and the barriers and roadblocks that limit the participation of displaced people in the decision-making process and social services. 


Furthermore, the participants reflected on the possible solutions that exist in the country. Comparing those possible solutions presented by the course, the participants highlighted that there is a need for local reintegration through providing proper shelter and resettlement, as the displaced communities in Somalia are continuously affected by droughts, flooding, and also recent conflicts in the Sool region. They shared and received an informative process for implementing successful interventions when addressing building inclusive democracy for displaced people.


Participants were most interested in key strategies to promote the inclusion of displaced people, challenges and solutions in democratic strategies, and ensuring active participation, where the participants have had time to practice and discuss the implementation of an impactful inclusive democracy for displaced people and explore practical insights that empower them to undertake a lasting impact. 


The participants discussed the most common challenges that face displaced people in Somalia and highlighted some points, including the fact that displaced people in Puntland have a shortage of food, healthy access, education, and shelter. The participants emphasized that the most vulnerable displaced people are living in congested and informal settlements on the outskirts of the cities.


There have been some important comments regarding the platform and the course raised by the participants, which Bareedo Platform will share with People Powered.


After completing the online course, the participants were able to download the completion certificate for the courses, indicating their completion of the displaced course on the platform.

Low Uptake Of COVID-19 Vaccine As Somalia Is Now Experiencing A Deadlier New Wave Of The Epidemic

April 11, 2021 Abdikhayr M. Hussein Leave a comment All, Bareedo Core, Civic Education, COVID-19

As of April 11, 2021, Somalia has recorded 12,406 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 618 deaths, since March 2020. People aged 60 years and older account for more than 80 per cent of the total deaths. 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Somalia in March 16, 2021; 195,000 doses were delivered to Mogadishu, 40,000 to Garowe and 65,000 to Hargeisa according to UNICEF. Additionally, UAE delivered 10,000 doses to Puntland in March 2021 and also China brought around 200,000 doses of their vaccine in Mogadishu waiting for redistribution.

Minister of Health of State of Puntland receiving COVID-19 vaccine shipment from UNICEF and WHO on March 16, 2021 in Garowe

The COVID-19 vaccines arrived in a critical time as Somalia is now experiencing a new wave of the epidemic, ten times deadlier than the first wave in 2020. This is the largest increase in a month since May-June of 2020 when the epidemic peaked at between 500–600 cases a week in Mogadishu, and even now expanded to Galkacyo, Hargeisa, Burco, Bosaso and Erigavo, cities with sizeable population. In addition to this, there is a critical shortage of medical oxygens in main hospitals throughout the country, catching the attention of public with continued condemnation against the health authorities for their poor handling and carelessness.

As per the announcements made by the national health authorities, this first consignment of vaccines will be used to vaccinate an estimated 300,000 frontline workers, elderly and people with chronic health conditions and also Police and Custodial Corps who are working for community on daily basis. These special priorities have been taken to ensure health and other essential services continue to function and deaths among people at risk, especially the elderly, reduced. The question is how far the vaccination goes on? What is the level of uptake?

Concern over uneven distribution

The 300,000 doses delivered in Somalia in March 16, 2021 were distributed to 6 members states and Mogadishu; 100 to Mogadishu, 65,000 to Somaliland, 40,000 to Puntland, 30,000 to Galmudug, 30,000 to Jubaland, 20,000 to South West and 15,000 to Hirshabelle. This allocation raised concerns over uneven distribution of vaccines at national level in the first days and even continued within local levels. For instance in Puntland, people voiced their concern over uneven distribution of vaccines within Puntland; for example Bosaso received more allocation than combination of Sanaag and Sool regions.

The president of Somaliland lunching the COVID-19 vaccination in Somaliland on March 24, 2021 in Hargeisa.

Uptake of COVID-19 vaccines slowed by misinformation

As COVID-19 has spread across Somalia, so has misinformation marring uptake of the vaccination. The first shipment, Oxford/AstraZeneca arrived in a time of some countries temporarily suspended use of this vaccine after a small number of recipients developed blood clots. This has been the biggest factor that fuelled the misinformation and myths against the vaccination, thus contributing to slow intake of the vaccines in particular the elderly who are among the first target groups, planned to receive vaccination in the first round.

Ministry of Health Somalia addressing the safety concerns of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine after widespread concerns over vaccine safety

Furthermore, there are other negative speculations saying that vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19, which means that COVID-19 vaccine can make the recipient sick with COVID-19. These are propped up by death of several persons who have died after taking the vaccine, although some of them have already had the virus.

People are less equipped with the tools necessary to identify and prevent the spread of misinformation and fake news. The public awareness rising, sharing clear content and fact-based advice with the public, to fight circulating conspiracies and misinformation is inadequate, thus leaving all these negative rumours to flourish and making acceptance of the vaccine difficult.

Poor follow up and monitoring of side effects

The COVID-19 vaccines have been developed with unprecedented speed, because of the pandemic and the need to get these vaccines out quickly to save lives, and emergency use authorisations have been given to these vaccines, which means that they are still under observation. There are still systems in place in countries that are following up people that are recording and reporting any serious adverse events or other events. There have been several persons died after taking the vaccine and some who got severe complications, and all these are happening while the national health authorities in Somalia are taking limited monitoring for any unexpected side effects following COVID-19 vaccine use.

Uncertainty of second dose

Most of the vaccines that are being developed need at least two doses, and two different types of COVID-19 vaccines; Oxford/AstraZeneca and Sinovac, are delivered in Somalia. The interval between the doses depends on which vaccine and the health authorities were required to inform public about when the second dose is due, whether two doses from two different manufacturers can be taken and assurance of availability of such vaccines. Although WHO recommended second dose to be taken with the same vaccine, people uncertain whether the current two types of COVID-19 vaccines will be available when the second dose is due.

Inadequate prevention measures

With the increasing caseload of COVID-19, little prevention measures were taken due to fear of that implementation would be less effect; a scenario learned from lockdowns in 2020. There have been measures limited to closure of schools implemented in Mogadishu and Somaliland, while all other life routines are going normal; coffee bars and restaurants are full of people and social gatherings are unchanged without observing any social distancing or wearing protective materials.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Bareedo’s policies.

Bareedo Platform Somalia honours the Somali Youth Day and appeals to all Somali youths to regain confidence in their country and collectively build Somalia

May 15, 2020 bareedo Leave a comment All, Civic Education, Democratisation, Press Statement, Youth Promotion Awareness Rising

Bareedo Platform Somalia honours the commemoration of Somali Youth Day, an annual event that signifies the beginning of the struggle for independence by a group of young Somalis in seventy-seven years ago on 15 May 1943 under the banner of the Somali Youth League (SYL). The SYL became an instrumental organization in Somalia’s push for independence and their sacrifices, struggle and patriotism united the Somali people, created the country’s flag and led to the recognition of Somalia by the international community.

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