Kenya: “My job brings me joy and pride every day”

Helping my community

My name is Najmo Osman Mohamed and I am a 24-year-old Somali-Bantu woman from the Banadir region of Somalia. I currently live in the Hagadera refugee camp in Dadaab with my parents and seven siblings. I have been working for HI for two years in the day-care centre it has set up in the camp, providing therapeutic support to women and children with disabilities.

I decided to work in humanitarian aid after seeing first-hand how difficult life can be for people in my community. As a refugee myself, I understand the scale of the difficulties faced by people such as single mothers, the elderly and people with disabilities.

“I decided to take on this role because I'm passionate about helping my community, especially those who need it most. My work allows me to directly improve the lives of the women, caregivers and children with disabilities in the camp. Every day I am inspired by the strength and courage of these people.”

I intend to maintain my commitment. In the future, I'd like to get a scholarship to study sociology and help solve the problems faced by refugee communities like mine. My dream is to set up an organisation that helps members of my community financially by supporting projects that bring about positive and lasting change.

A profession full of challenges and rewards

“Hearing people's stories and learning about their difficulties can be emotionally draining. It's sometimes difficult to stay focused on the job without getting too personally involved. Finding the balance between feeling compassion and maintaining a professional attitude is a real challenge.”

In my life as a refugee and social worker, each day brings its own challenges and rewards. I work with women and children with disabilities, and empathy is essential to building trust and strong relationships with them. Every morning, I make my way to the day care centre to lead physical rehabilitation sessions and organise activities to help patients recover.

This was the case, for example, with Maryan Hussein, a 10-year-old girl I accompanied. Her clothes had caught fire, causing severe burns to her arms, chest and back. She was treated in hospital, but without any physical therapy, some of her muscles contracted. Maryan found it difficult to stretch out her hand and to carry out everyday activities such as lifting, washing, dressing and playing.

Maryan underwent corrective surgery and, together with a physical therapist colleague, we immediately began physical rehabilitation. After being discharged from hospital, Maryan had three physical therapy sessions a week, which produced great results. Her mother told us gratefully that her daughter now feels happier and more confident.

“My favourite part is seeing that I can make a real difference to the lives of people with disabilities in my community. Witnessing these changes and knowing that I have contributed to them brings me great happiness and pride in my work.”

Inclusion, for a fairer world

I have seen for myself the extent to which exclusion complicates the lives of those who are already in difficulty. In a refugee camp, for example, minorities, single mothers, women at risk of violence, the elderly and people with disabilities are often left out in the cold and they find it extremely difficult to access healthcare, education or employment, which keeps them in poverty. 

Inclusion is therefore crucial: we need to ensure that everyone, whatever their situation, has the same opportunities to participate fully in society and to share their ideas and competences.

“Inclusion gives everyone a sense of belonging and respect; it celebrates our differences and ensures everyone is treated equitably. In this way, everyone counts and can make a valuable contribution to a fairer, kinder world.”

A daily struggle to preserve our dignity

Life in a refugee camp is difficult. In Dadaab, there is a desperate need for shelter and sanitation, and many people do not have enough food because of a lack of financial resources. In my family, for example, I'm the only one who earns a stipend and we depend on humanitarian aid. People with disabilities face additional problems. For example, without wheelchairs or adapted means of transport, they cannot get around easily. For them, going to school or seeing a doctor is a real obstacle course.

So the most difficult part of my job is dealing with the lack of resources. We don't have enough equipment, space or human resources to help everyone in the ways we would like to. 

“There aren't enough resources to fund all the aid we need, and that's heartbreaking. Life in the refugee camp puts our strength to the test every day. It's a constant struggle for basic rights and dignity.” 

That's why I'd like to ask donors to step up their financial support. It is essential to increase aid, not only to cover basic needs - shelter, sanitation, healthcare, etc. - but also to enable the most vulnerable people to meet the challenges they face and make a significant contribution to our society. By broadening support, we can achieve more together.