Fardosa at her shop trying out a bracelet for her client.

By Janet Nyangweso & Marion Kwambai

In the extensive Dadaab camp, where Fardosa and her family sought refuge from the war in Somalia, a tale of resilience and triumph unfolds. Fardosa, now 18 years old, has faced numerous challenges but has never let them deter her from pursuing her dreams. 

Born as the first child in her family within the confines of the camp, Fardosa's parents had sought asylum in Kenya back in 1997. Despite the harsh conditions and limited opportunities, they managed to create a stable home for their growing family. However, Fardosa's life took an unexpected turn one fateful afternoon in 2020.

Returning from school, Fardosa encountered a stranger who offered her a drink of water. Little did she know that accepting that drink would lead to a series of perplexing events. She was overwhelmed by dizziness and later regained consciousness, only to discover that she had been sexually assaulted.

Weeks later, she learnt that she was pregnant…

“It was a very traumatic experience for my daughter. Imagine being raped then later on discover that you’re pregnant,” says Fardosa’s mother as she recounts the day her daughter

came back home crying on the day she had been sexually assaulted.

Fardosa and her mother reported the incident to the police and sought support from Save the Children. Together with her family, she was immediately put under a counseling and psychosocial support programme, to help them cope with the traumatic experience. The European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) are funding the programme.

That however, was not the end of Fardosa’s troubles. Due to social stigma, she had to stop going to school and figure out how to support her mother and the baby she was now expecting.

“I could no longer go back to school. My fellow classmates used to talk about me behind my back and every time I turned, I saw other students whispering in low tones while pointing at me and laughing. I could not take it. I made the tough decision to stop going to school until I gave birth,”says a sad Fardosa.

The ECHO funded program that is being implemented in partnership with the Norwegian Refugee Council is an education and child protection project that focuses on providing psychosocial support, life skills lessons, resilience forums, trainings and awareness sessions.

With a cash grant of Sh.15,000, Fardosa and her group members started a business selling perfume, cosmetics, baby clothes, hijab fabric, Dera fabric, and jewelry. Despite the challenges she faces, Fardosa remains determined. She returned to school and completed her primary education, eventually transitioning to secondary school.

“I would like to be a doctor when I grow up because I want to help the people in my community,” says an optimistic Fardosa.

It is through this that Fardosa was enrolled in a cash transfer project specifically designed to assist girls who had faced similar challenges like hers. She joined a group of fifteen young women who had also experienced sexual violence and underwent livelihoods training that focused on essential skills such as budgeting, saving, and business startups.

Find more about our programs in Dadaab here: