Shimelba Refugee Camp, ETHIOPIA - 02 Feb 2007 -
One of the psychological challenges of being a refugee: not being able to make plans. Feeling powerless and uncertain about the future is the reality for most people who have fled their homes.
Despite such stress, many refugees manage to stay active and optimistic. This is the case for a group of young people living in the Shimelba Refugee Camp in northern Ethiopia.
About 12,000 Eritrean refugees occupy this sprawling dusty place close to the border. Established in 2001, the camp has accommodated a steady influx of mostly ethnic Tigrinya people and farmers from the Kunama tribe. The refugees are mostly well-educated men in their twenties, former residents of Asmara, the Eritrean capital, hungry for stimulation and eager to do something constructive with their time
Two years ago, frustrated by the lack of educational opportunities offered within the camp, some of these men began to host informal discussions in their homes. Around the same time, the IRC issued a “call for proposals” for an educational project. The winning proposal, called Circles for Change, was the brainchild of the discussion group, who wanted to expand and develop its original initiative. And they did: more than 300 people have participated in the project and the number of “circles” continues to multiply.
Circles for Change seeks to develop “the power of expression in the English language” by exploring topics such as politics, anthropology and gender. Circle courses are intensive: sessions run for three hours a day, four days a week, for three months. Each group has a refugee facilitator who leads discussion.
“I can see a change in the students’ knowledge and attitude,” says Tamiru Mikre, IRC education and community services manager at Shimelba. “They’re not only developing their language skills but are becoming more assertive and able to formulate their ideas. It’s also helping to change their world view.”
Because of the demand for reading material by participants in Circles for Change, the IRC created a library now supplemented by donations from staff at the U.S. Embassy and the IRC. On average, it accommodates 40 visitors a day.
Most recently, Circles for Change has created a “second tier” that attempts to put theoretical discussions into practice. The group is conducting an ongoing evaluation of aid organizations working in the camp and is developing a management strategy. Circles for Change has even been asked by the camp’s Refugee Central Committee to work as a consultant to conduct research on Shimelba’s residents.
“Before, these refugees would perceive themselves as a ‘package of needs,’”explains Tamiru. “They were the recipients and the NGOs were the donors. But now that perception has changed. Their critical analysis of NGOs can help facilitate better understanding and, consequently, smoother operations.”
Enthusiasm for Circles for Change remains high. Tesfay Antonio, is a 23-year-old former soldier who’s been living in the camp for a year, attends Circles sessions and welcomes the knowledge he’s gained. “I didn’t know anything about NGOs before,” he says. “Who knows where destiny will lead me, but if I get the chance to work with an NGO in the future, I’ll be able to pass on the insights I’ve gained from this study.”
