Somali refugee communities in urban areas of East Africa: Exploring education as a tool to breaking away from fear for urban refugees in Nairobi, Kampala and Addis Ababa

Abstract

Two thirds of the 15 million UNHCR registered refugees live in urban settings. Urban refugees face many challenges such as harassment, deportation, discrimination, recruitment into local gangs or militia, and social insecurities. They are also more vulnerable and less visible than those who live in camp settlements. This research explores urban Somali refugee communities living in three cities of East Africa (Nairobi, Kampala, and Addis Ababa) and looks at how education empowers and protects them by aiding them to live in dignity and to break free from fear and want. The methodology is based on a qualitative approach through triangulation of data and fieldwork interviews. Results show that education helps prevent ethnic discrimination through language acquisition, protects against urban violence, and develops self-reliant members of society.