USWO as an indigenous organization mandates the respect of the Universal Declarations of Human Rights (UDHR) and the subsequent International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural and on Civil and Political Rights, and further International Bill of human right treaties on specific protection to vulnerable groups, such as minority, women and minority children groups in two sets of mechanisms: Firstly the promotion of the respect for human rights is one of the indispensable purposes of the Ubah Social Welfare Organization.
Secondly, the participation and
working in the socioeconomic development endeavors are the organization’s vital
work on a voluntary basis. USWO have all the Basic infrastructure
to achieve the goals and objectives of our organization such as Hi-tech office,
(computer with all the Peripherals, Broadband internet connection, telephone,
Ambulance services, Audio- visual component, etc.
USWO CHARACTERISTIC
USWO have highly
qualified, experienced and professional Personnel, in the areas of
Organizational management, Development, Finance and Social Welfare etc. who
dedicate themselves towards the objectives of the organization and its
programs.
USWO
have
our separate Recruitment policy, recruitment of stuffs done by an interview
board, which consisted the scholars of the related project theme.
USWO
ensured
the staff against any Calamity or disaster, to support their family in the hard
time.
Chairperson of our organization comes from marginalized segregated outcast minority community in Somaliland and out of five board members two are women. The meeting of our governing body held once in a month and review all the progress related to the entire project.
Our organization believes in transparency at every level of work, USWO have financial display board , on
which USWO write down in bold letters that organization
have received such and such amount in the following head .
USWO mentioned all
the accounts book on the computer and it's absolutely up-to-date.
USWO have the
strong network with the local administration and other local civil society
groups and government organizations and USWO
are the member of the some national reputable network like, HIV/AIDs
national umbrella of SAHAN, youth national umbrella of SONYO ,child protection
Network,Horn Migexed migration
Network,Human trafficking Network,IDP working group, COSONGO and so on.
USWO have a
Personnel department who looks at all the matter related to staffs such as
recruitment, Welfare of staffs and other Personnel related issue.
USWO have established
information call for the mass to get any type of information at any time
Our organization started it works from grass-root level and then
gradually going up to address other groups who will be the beneficiary of the
project or stakeholders.
USWO recruit,
Project staffs who are coming from same socioeconomic conditions, in which our
target groups belong , and our project staffs are very well aware of local
conditions and area.
USWO manage
separate Bank accounts for each and every project.
Our 95% transactions from the bank or individuals through the A/c Payee check
TARGETED STAKEHOLDERS OF USWO
As mentioned earlier that the
organization and its programs aimed to reduce discrimination and exclusion and
bring sustained change, the target stakeholders/beneficiaries are selected
considering its programmes and a broad range of areas and actors.
- The
right-holders who are discriminated against due to the social system; racial
minorities, IDPs and refugees, street children and women. In addition,
specific emphasis is placed upon the future generation (the youth) who can
bring a sustained change. It is essential to build their capacity to voice
their claims for better services and a meaningful stake in society.
- The
right-providers/duty bearers; elected representatives and local level
service providers (the Local Government). Building the capacity of the
Local Government, other local service providers and elected
representatives to perform their duties effectively, building a better
relationship with a constituency, and coordinating the activities of
different governmental and non-governmental actors.
- The
human rights based organizations; NGOs, CBOs, Networks, Other professional
groups and civil society members. Youth Group, Through Networking with
different Human Rights Organizations, NGOs, and the USWO will contribute
in the protection and promotion of Human Rights and thus work as a
defender of rights.
- Guardian
Institutions; Media, Lawyers Organization. USWO works with the media, the
legal professions and watchdog institutions so that they can play the role
in safeguarding Human Rights, advocating Good Governance and Establishing
a free, fair and fully encompassing democratic process.
USWO BELIEFS
·
USWO has
similar beliefs to those for which it was initially founded. These include
issues related to wage movement, land rights, livelihoods, food security &
good health, women’s rights, empowerment, fundamentalism, injustice and market
exploitation.
·
It is USWO’s
perception that poverty is created by many interconnected and interdependent
problems.
·
USWO believes
that the bonds between these problems can only be broken and development made
truly sustainable by addressing many of the issues simultaneously. Most NGO’s
have chosen to specialize their expertise in one or two areas but USWO has
retained its emphasis on the holistic approach. USWO believes it must work in
all sectors of the development context as shown in the diagram to be effective
and sustainable.
Furthermore, USWO believes that the community will only truly embrace
development if they themselves identify their needs and lead the process of
change.
USWO takes a very strong stand against corruption and bribery. It is
not open to either giving or receiving bribes. USWO’s stand in this area is now
widely recognized in the community. USWO encourages other organizations to
follow its lead.
Respect: - USWO affirms treat all people with equal respect and as potential
contributors of human right participants and donors as wells.
Dedication: - USWO dedicated obligation and effective commitment to serve promoting
the inclusion of social, economic and political rights of every individual,
poor, disenfranchised and marginalized people in the society, no boundaries to
serve man and women.
Accountability: - Transparency and accountability within the organization spheres and
among the three domains of the society (the state, private sector and civil
society) and International community as well.
Philosophy: The long-term beliefs of the organization are to promote the
underprivileged minority groups in Somaliland by empowering these through
advocacy of their social, economic and political rights by undertaking public
awareness, realization and skill training provisions that sustain the rights
for the public opinion, an expression of the freedoms of the most marginalized
groups and individual citizen in the society. By serving their access to
essential social services of health, water and sanitation, education and
employment opportunities
USWO VISION AND MISSION
Vision:
USWO’s vision is that of a
Somaliland society that is equitable, just and discrimination free, regardless
of caste or ethnic origin.
Even though the USWO began its
interventions through local advocacy by raising the civil and political rights
of country’s minority groups, it has been also involving actively in raising
voices against racial and caste-based discrimination at both national and local
levels.
Mission:
USWO will work to
contribute to the creation of equitable and inclusive society through the
elimination of caste-based discrimination and untouchability through providing the disadvantaged and marginalized
minority people with the tools needed to deal with their social, educational, environmental,
health, economic and cultural issues and concerns.
USWO’S
GOALS:
1.
Strengthening
of livelihoods activities to promote local resources; trainings to promote an
increase in productivity and improvement of market access; activities to
improve basic infrastructure to address the present social needs of Somaliland
marginalized minority groups on education, economic, health, shelter,
environment and water/sanitation;
2.
Eradicate
poverty by creating an enabling environment for income, asset base for the poor
minority and other disadvantage communities;
3.
Support for
the participation in decision-making structures; linking marginalized minority
groups with government agencies/schemes (advocacy and lobbying);
4.
Increasing the
level of awareness and understanding on risks of counter trafficking in
Somaliland and providing counter trafficking capacity building trainings for
local authorities, civil society organization and communities;
5.
Protecting the
rights of children including minority children to move forward by sharing
information and experience with CSOs and stakeholders and providing capacity building
trainings to Somaliland local authority and IDP community committees in order
to overcome any kind of abuse, or violation against the rights of minority
communities and children in Somaliland;
6.
Combating
human trafficking, illegal migration and recruitment of youth by
extremists/terrorist groups through youth oriented programs including debates
among youth groups and democracy and human rights awareness programs;
7.
Initiating
effective programs that could contribute and faster to support social and economic
of the underprivileged groups to participate in peace building, democracy and the
practice of good governance in the understanding of equalities and access to
justice;
8.
Accessibility
by creating income-generating activities to the minority women's groups to
foster and build their capacities to manage, maintain and safeguard the
mainstay of their economy.
9.
Developing and
promoting new marketable skills (metal works, carpentry and masonry and
goldsmith to the minority societal sectors through vocational training packages
while upgrading the traditional skills of the minority people like shoe making,
blacksmith, tailoring, home decorations and clay post to strengthen and empower
their socio-economy.
10.
Encouraging
the development the minority rights activism through formation youth, women's
groups and CBOs through leadership and human rights trainings.
STRATEGIC GOALS (OR FOCUS)
E Create
awareness to Somaliland outcast minorities regarding the caste system of
Somaliland and its associated manifestations through the media (print and electronic)
E Create
awareness to Somaliland outcast minorities on various environment and natural
resources related issues in order to enhance the environmental justice to
Somaliland outcast minorities
E Become established as a publication agency for
the distribution of literature pertaining to the Somaliland outcast minority
community.
E Establish
strong networks (both at national and international levels) and coordination
with the intellectuals, political leaders, and Somaliland outcast minority
activists in order to bring Somaliland outcast minority communities into the
mainstream of national development.
E Undertake
research/study regarding social
inclusion, Somaliland outcast minorities and poverty related issues
E Carry
out human resources and economic development activities in order to support the
Somaliland outcast minority communities through microfinance and polytechnic
skill development training.
E Implement
education/training campaigns for community mobilization and social empowerment
of Somaliland outcast minorities.
E Enforce
the government for the implementation of various international/UN conventions
related to caste issues to which Somaliland is a signatory and disseminate
information regarding national and international laws relating to Somaliland
outcast minorities and discrimination. Facilitate discussions between the
Somaliland outcast minorities and Somaliland majority communities for the
effective execution of good governance, decentralization, inclusion and
democratization process.
E Reduce
discrimination within the intern-Somaliland outcast minority group.
MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP
The Ubah
Social Welfare Organization has effective governing “Board of Director” of five
5 members (3 male and 2 females), which is functional. The Board of director is
the supreme organ of authority in the organization. Ubah Social Welfare
Organizational goal towards the board of directors is to attract retention and
development growth of the Organization.
To achieve
considerable growth and changes in the near future, the board is the highest
body of the Organization; they review organizational plans, identify needs, and
link planning to budget, approves implementations of the constitution,
operational manuals, organizational policies and procedures, internal control
system, designs and develops the strategic plans/directions of the
organization; and amends where deem necessary.
They
prepare and announce, organize and hold the semi-annual and annual meetings of
the organization. They also do hold any extraordinary meetings whenever they
sought to be necessary as per the constitution of the organization mobilize and
secure the resources/funds of the organization through broad donor-based fund
diversification strategy. BOD signs agreements of the proposals/grants with
donors and approves payments/releases of the funds as per the financial policy
of the organization.
In addition
BOD nominates or recruits the executive director to run the
management/functions of the organization, and the departmental and/or
sub-office leaders as well.
The
organization has written constitution by the BOD and mutually approved by the
General Assembly (GA) in December 2006. Some amendments were made to the
constitution in the years 2009 and 2012 during two different (GA) meetings. The
amendments should be suggested by the BOD members and should be passed in a
mutual authority of the GA. The organization has registration legal documents,
and therefore is operated by law.
USWO
organization has its own and developed administrative manual for policies and
procedures of staffing requirements, now and in the future of the current
strategic plan. This directs day-to-day office operational tasks and
managements which include:
E Management of office
human and material resources.
E Management of expandable
and expandable non supplies.
E Staffing and procurement
procedures.
USWO ORGANOGRAM
The Ubah Social Welfare Organization has an effective organizational
chart, which is functional. The organizational chart clearly defines hierarchical
management structures and functions of the organization.
WHAT
WE DO: (Projects we accomplish in the recent years)
1.
CHILD
RIGHTS PROTECTION
SCROE Project/Program Background:
On May 26th 2012 collaboration
partner agreement has been signed between Save the Children and USWO for the
implementation of the project entitled “Strengthening Community Based Responses for Improving
Care and Protection of Vulnerable Children in Somaliland (SCORE)”.
 The overall objectives of the project are the promotion rights of vulnerable children
who fled their families or communities into Somaliland are respected, promoted
and fulfilled. The thrust of SCORE
project is to lay the foundation for effective child protection for these
vulnerable groups in Hargeisa through the establishment and strengthening of
community-based child protection systems and structures in a safe and
protective environment. The project mainly focused on building on Save the
Children experience in the above districts through integrating other child
protection programs in IDP communities which have been least served by other
international actors and programs, with
specific focus on household economic strengthening medical support and
reintegration support among others. This will serve as a basis for learning
experience and testing the relevance of a community based approach to respond
to the high level of vulnerability of children in Somaliland and hence laying
the foundation for sustainable child protection interventions. The project is
financed by the Danish TV Collection through Save the Children Denmark.
Major Objectives of the SCORE Program:
§ Strengthened capacity of child protection systems and structures to
prevent and respond to abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence against
internally displace children and children living and working on the streets by
December 2013;
§ 1,000 IDP and other vulnerable children who have fled their families and
live in IDP camps and the streets of Hargeisa have access to community based
care and protection services in a supportive and child empowering environment
by December 2013
Primary Target Groups:
The project targets
to work with IDP and street children in Maroodi-geeks region in the main city
of Hargeisa in the two IDP camps of the State House and Daami A and B located
in Ibrahim Koodbuur and Gacanlibaah Districts respectively.
Secondary Target Groups:
Major Achievements:
E Establish and strengthen
community based child protection structures (Child Rights Community Committees
-CRCCs) at community/village level;
On
June 1st – 7th 2012, USWO carried out establishment and
strengthening community based child protection structures (child rights
community committees – (CRCCS) at community/village level through implementing
the activities as followings:
E Conduct community sensitization, mobilization and
awareness on child rights and promotion of community approaches to protection;
On June 11th
2012, USWO performed a great public awareness symposium on child rights and
promotion of community approaches to protection at Daami IDPs Primary School
Center. An estimated number of an approximately 420 internally displaced population
gathered and attended at the event and among gathered attendees included
(parents - mothers and fathers, children
- boys & girls, women and men, traditional leaders, religious leaders, old
and young, local authority, CRCC members, educated and literate, police
officers) ((Plz see detailed separate activity report on CRCCs Training)
E Establish, promote and support problem solving, conflict
management and self-help initiatives through child to child;
On June 12th
– 17th 2012, USWO carried out establishment, promotion and solving
conflict management and self-help initiatives through child to child;
therefore, USWO has so far reached the accomplishment of the activities as the
followings:
§
USWO mapped 3 areas for street children (Gargaar street, Farrah Joome,
Central police station street, the Jajabka market street and Hargeisa
municipality street) 12th – 13th 2013.
§
USWO registered 113 street children (70 boys and 43 girls).
§
USWO conducted a two-day training in problem solving, conflict management
and self-help initiative with 107 children (98 boys and 9 girls) in Somaliland
Street Children Rehabilitation Centre (SSRC) on June 8th – 9th
2012;
§
USWO conducted two-day orientation sessions on problem solving, conflict
management, self-help initiatives and behaviour changes with 33 streets (33
boys) children at USWO office on June 16th – 17th 2012; (Please, read
more on the separate activity report).
E
Direct support to vulnerable children to access needed
services (legal, medical and psychosocial counselling support) through referral
or other means;
As detailed below bulleted and in the separate
activity report of it, USWO has provided direct support to vulnerable children
to access needed services (legal, medical and psychosocial counselling support)
through referral or other means.
§
On Wed, Jun 13, 2012 at 8:30 PM, USWO delivered support medical and food
items to poor Issa Mohamed Handule family with a lot of sick
and disabled children Mohamed Moge village in Hargeisa;
§
USWO provided support medical food items to Farah and Muxiyodiin families
on June 16th - 17th 2012;
§
USWO extended psychosocial counselling support to Muxiyodiin through
promoting him to work at USWO office as junior assistant and in the afternoon
he goes to private school for learning education;
§
USWO extended psychosocial counselling support to Farah and enrolled her
in a private school for learning education;
§
USWO facilitated the establishment of two new support barber shops for
Farah and Muxiyodiin families;
E Conduct establishment and structured training sessions
for parent support and social groups on improving community-based reception and
rehabilitation of vulnerable children/children at risk and care and protection
of children and parenting skills;
On June 26th – July 7th 2012, USWO, along with the
technical support of Save the Children -SCORE project team ; as well as, the
support Daami A+B child rights community committee (CRCCs), carried out the
first sessions of (PSGs) establishment and structured training session on the promotion
of child rights, care and protection of parenting skills as the followings:
§ USWO established two parent support groups (PSGs) of 40 members – 20
from Dane A and 20 from Daami B IDP Camps in Hargeisa on June 26th –
27th 2012.
§ USWO conducted two-days training and structured sessions on child care
and protection, parenting skills and PSGs leadership, and basic management with
40 members from parent support and social groups (PSGs) started July 6th
7th 2012.
E Support reintegration of children to their communities including
children in contact with the law
Regard
the reintegration of the children into their community/families. USWO have
reached and registered 100 children
(children living on street, working on streets (70 boys and 30 girls), USWO
identified, recorded and screened all the necessary information of each child
(child’s background, family status, protection concern of the child, education
level of the child , type of
reintegration support to provide and child’ interest.
§ USWO mapped 3 areas for street children (Gargaar street, Farrah Joome,
Central police station street, the Jajabka market street and Hargeisa
municipality street) 12th – 13th 2013.
§ USWO identified 44 working with street children
to be reintegrated into their families, or communities in the third week of
July and they are in and now waiting for the process of support;
§ USWO is in the process to set a plan for the
remaining 56 of living on street children and they are supposed to be
reunified, or reintegrated with families and communities for the next coming
weeks;
E Conduct family tracing and reunification with families or
resettle street children, neglected children;
After the
registration of 100 street children (70
boys and 40 girls), USWO identified and screened 100 street children. USWO with
the technical and financial support of Save the Children are in the process
reporting and submitting those identified children; in order to, trans-approach
them into reunification, or reintegration with families, or relative
communities for. This activity is continuous.
2.
WATER,
SANITATION, HYGIENE AND SHELTER PROGRAM:
Program Background:
With the support fund
of UNICEF, this program is aimed and designed
to improve shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene activities for IDPs
settlements in all Somaliland regions. USWO strategically set the
initiation of this program department in 2005 for emergency interventions
through providing both permanent and temporary household latrines, pipe line
water kiosks, provision of capacity building trainings for IDP committees and
raising awareness promotional campaigns.
Major
objective of the program
E To
improve water, sanitation, hygiene and shelter conditions of IDP populations in
all regions of Somaliland.
Major
achievements
In order to achieve the overall objectives of
this program, USWO developed a fundraising strategy for some past and current
formulated projects. Since 2005, USWO accomplished some effective projects
relating to the program intervention in IDPs shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene
and resulted in the major achievements as follows:
In
2011, USWO implemented:
§ 3 IDPs Community
mobilization and awareness on sanitation and hygiene practices;
§ 3 IDPs capacity
building trainings for 120 hygiene and sanitation committees, promoters and
municipal hygiene state authority members;
§ Construction of 75
temporary household latrines at 3 IDP camps in Sool, Sanaag and Tog-their
regions;
§ Production of project
partners visibility on latrines;
§ Distribution of 150
pieces of ceramic filters to the selected 3 IDP camps in Sool, Sanaag and
Tog-dheer regions;
In
2010, USWO implemented
§ Construction of 330
temporary household slabs at 4 IDP camps in Hargeisa and Burao;
§ 4 IDPs capacity
building trainings for 160 hygiene and sanitation committees, promoters and
municipal hygiene state authority members;
§ Provision sanitation
and hygiene facilities for 4 IDP camps in Hargeisa and Burao;
In
2008, USWO implemented:
§ Construction of 180
temporary household latrines at 2 IDP camps in Hargeisa (Daami A&B Minority/IDP
camps);
§ Constructed 8 water pipeline
kiosks at 2 IDP camps in Hargeisa (Daami A&B Minority/IDP camps);
§ Provision and
distribution shelter kits to 209 IDP households and poor vulnerable families at
3 IDP camps in Hargeisa, Boramma, Barbara and Burao;
3.
COUNTER
TRAFFICKING
Background
USWO, Ubah Social Welfare
Organization, submitted to IOM, Hargeisa office, a project proposal of a Raising Awareness through Drama Performance and
Capacity Building to Address Trafficking in Persons in Somaliland.
On January 7th 2010, USWO
and International Organization for Migration (IOM) together approached with
signing project contract and the contract defines the roles and
responsibilities of each party regarding to the implementation of the IOM
counter trafficking project activities through drama; live play performances and media airing
documentary film and to provide capacity building workshops to traditional
leaders, women, youth and local NGOs for period of three
months from January 10th 2010 – March 31st 2010.
The core
components of the project were composition and production of drama episodes,
two days exclusive training for UDT on the concept of human trafficking and
smuggling, drama practice and rehearsal by the team, three capacity building
workshops for minority traditional leaders (MTL), IDP community committees and
youth – women civil society organization, both live and replay drama
performances in three regions (Saaxil, Hargeisa and Togdheer) of Somaliland,
production of drama DVD package as documentary film and airing recorded version
of the drama performances in two Somaliland local television channels.
Program Objectives
Achievements
4.
HUMAN
RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY CIVIC EDUCATION OUTREACH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Background
With the support fund of
DRC, this program intends to improve the Somaliland minorities’ right situation
through information sharing and teaching issues on Human Rights and Democracy
for young people in Somaliland. The aim is to improve the system of governance,
increase democratic values and eventually reduce poverty, promote social
justice and maintain political and economic equity for citizens.
Program Objectives
§
Increase the understanding and awareness of
program target groups’ on human rights, and good governance.
§
To nurture and create institutional means for
mobilization, articulation and pursuit of democratic values.
§
Increase voter registration and election
participation skills and knowledge of Somaliland youth generations.
Achievements
§
USWO trained 40 minority youth for minority
rights advocacy.
§
USWO trained 50 joint minority/majority
traditional leaders and built 24 regular pressure committee for mainstreaming,
lobbying and advocacy through promoting opportunities for free scholarships,
permanent employment and job training recruitments for minority youth
§
Enabled minority rights national policy in a
national minority rights strategic building conference held by USWO.
§
USWO have nobly promoted the cause of
permanent job employment for 11 minority youth in public/private sectors from
the December 2008 up to now.
§
USWO have nobly promoted the cause of free
scholarships for 211 minority youth in public/private schools and colleges from
the December 2008 up to now.
§
USWO trained 40 male/female minority adults
and youth for mobilizing disadvantaged communities through political
participation in the country forthcoming elections on the basis of advanced
democracy in worldwide.
5.
MIXED
MIGRATION PROTECTION INTO CIVIC EDUCATION FOR YOUTH COMMUNITIES
Background
With the support fund of
DRC, this program intends to address illegal migration missions through
exposing the real hardships and consequences of migration for young communities
in Somaliland
Program Objectives
§
To increase the level of awareness campaigns
of program on migration.
§
To reduce the risks of migration and increase
knowledge of Somaliland youth generations.
Achievements
§
USWO held a 5 day training workshop on
illegal migration in Hargeisa
§
USWO held 3 days illegal youth migrants forum
for 50 parents in Hargeisa
§
USWO developed 10 scenes drama on illegal
migration and planned to launch outreach drama performances in all roots of
illegal migration in Somaliland.
6.
CHILD RIGHTS PROTECTION PROGRAM
According to the UN
convention and/or African charter on the rights of the child, there has not
been a comprehensive and solid system of Juvenile justice for the protection of
children in Somalia/land in conflict with the law and/or local norms. It
is worse in the minority and IDP
communities, because of the perception of the reality of child rights
protection and the prevalence of using drugs, illicit sexual relations with the
underage, the practice of child labor and absence of child access to education.
Having realized this problem, USWO organization added a child rights
protection section in minority and IDP communities to their programs. In 2007
UNICEF provided exclusive capacity building trainings to USWO organization
permanent staff; in addition to, inviting to external trainings on the child
rights protection.
Program Objectives
§ To protect
the rights of children by providing capacity building workshops for local
authority, minority and IDP community committees.
§ To
establish non-formal schools for child education in minority/IDP camps.
§ To protect
the risks of FGM/C practices against children in Somali communities.
§ To address
out the uses of child labor and for in the conflict.
§ To protect
children against trafficking at national level.
Achievements
§ USWO
established non-formal school for child education in Daami IDPs camp in 2006
with the support of UNICEF education department.
§ Performed
live drama shows on reduction of FGM practice in IDP settlements in Hargeisa,
Burao and Barbara in 2007 with the support of UNICEF child rights protection
department.
§ Conducted
voluntary assessment surveys on child rights and early marriage addiction in
Daami A&B IDP camps in Hargeisa with Save the Children (SCF) in 2008/9.
§ Conducted
four alternative workshops on the risks of FGM for 80 minority professional FGM
circumcisers (women) in 2008 with the support of the Danish National Media
Agency.
7.
HIV/AIDS PREVENTION PROGRAM
Program
Objectives
§
To increase the understanding and awareness
of program target groups’ on the prevention of HIV/AIDS,
§
To provide training workshops, home basic
care and counselling to the PLWHA to be free from stigma and discrimination.
§
To support the fight against HIV/AIDS at
national level.
Achievements
§
USWO established PLWHAs counselling center
for the promotions against HIV/AIDS spread.
§
USWO developed text IEC visible materials and
sound message slogans on the risks of HIV/AIDS in public places.
§
USWO permanently trained 207 target
communities for HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention methods.
8.
IN-COME
GENERATION AND SOCIO-ECONOMICS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Background
With
support fund of DRC, this program was initiated as a unique section of USWO
prioritized programs in 2007 for developing empowered socioeconomic for poor
marginalized groups through generating income programs
Program
Objectives
§
To create micro business centers in low
income communities in Somaliland.
§
To promote poverty reduction and increase the
chances of micro credit.
§
To upgrade the livelihood conditions of
vulnerable minority groups.
Achievements
§
USWO has equipped 20 barbershop centers in
Hargeisa
§
USWO has equipped 15 barbershop centers in
Borama
§
USWO has established a large business bakery counter
in Daami in order to sustain the monthly salary of Daami B IDP school teachers.
9. MINORITY
WOMEN GROUPS DEVELOPMENT SECTION
With the support fund of UNICEF, USWO’s
minority women’s development section was established in 2003 with the objective
of responding to the socioeconomic and psychosocial needs of minority women in
Somaliland. USWO recognizes that minority women are one of the most vulnerable
groups within the community and therefore require special attention.
Long term
Objective
The long-term objective of this program is to empower women in Somaliland and make them self-reliant. USWO recognizes that women are one of the most disadvantaged groups in the society at large and therefore require access to educational and professional skills for empowerment.
Short Term Objectives
§ To empower young minority women
through vocational skills that are in need in the real market
§ To provide literacy and
innumeracy skills
§ To provide capacity building
orientation trainings and workshops in order to upgrade minority women’s role
in decision making within family and local level.
Achievements
§
USWO trained 150 young minority women and
girls in different skills under the supervision of USWO women’s section.
§
More minority women opened a small business
and their socioeconomic live increased
§
More women have been included in the USWO’s
board of Directors.
§
More women have been included at USWO staff
and management team
10. SKILLS TRAINING AND ALTERNATIVE
BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM
Program
background
With the support fund of CARE
International, the program provides care and support, such as skills and
literacy training, to minority children and youth at risk.
Objective
The aim of this program is to assist minority youth returned from refugee camps and encourage them in contributing to the reconstruction of their homeland with their skills both educational as well as professional
.
Intermediate
objective
Based on the convention on the rights of
the minority children this program will empower target groups through the provision
of relevant education and skills training. Targeted Somali minority
children/youth will be encouraged to build their self-esteem and become
empowered.
Achievements
§
USWO trained 300 young minority youth and
children in different skills;
§
At least 100 minority children graduated from
the basic education school of USWO enrolled both public and private schools in
Hargeisa and Burao.
11. UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP FOR MINORITY YOUTH PROGRAM
The university scholarship program provides free
sponsorship for minority youth who graduated from secondary school but because
of poverty are unable the university fees. From 2004 up to now, 47 minority
youth are enrolled in University of Hargeisa after USWO raised high profile
advocacy to provide free university scholarship for minority students graduated
from secondary schools that their families are not able to pay their education
fee. Thanks to the UNDP, University of Hargeisa, Local Municipality of Hargeisa
and Amoud University.
12. MINORITY RIGHTS ADVOCACY PROJECT
According
the human rights organizations and the studies by the United Nations in
Somaliland showed that the existence of minorities in Somaliland has existed
for decades. Social segregation of minority groups in Somaliland dates back to
periods before the armed conflict in 1991. Owing to the existence of caste
systems and prior to the contemporary thinking, this phenomenon was not an issue
of concern to the leaders and communities of Somaliland. However, Minorities
continued to experience discrimination, segregation and inequality. It is
argued that Siyad Barre’s regime gave minority issues some prominence and
positioned some minorities, mainly from the
 Gabooye
(Midgan), Tumaal and
Yibir in high military and government posts.
However, the regime did not carry out any tangible programs to empower minority
groups. On the contrary, it seriously
violated the basic human rights and the right to development of these groups.
On the other hand, the minority communities in
Somaliland are not able to participate fully with the current democratic
process in Somaliland because of segregations and inequalities, the interaction
and understanding between minority and majority communities did not exist, and
many human rights violations, discriminations practices are the daily live of
these poor of poorest outcast minority groups in Somaliland, in this context
USWO in order to address this issue had submitted minority rights advocacy
projects to DRC for funding. Thanks to DRC office in Somaliland for their
funding of this four months (Dec. 08 – March 09) project
OBJECTIVE
The
overall aim of this proposed project is to empower Somaliland monitory communities and increasing
the understanding and interaction among minority and majority communities in
Somaliland
Specific
Objectives will be:
§ To increase awareness and understanding of minority rights
to the government officials, civil society and traditional leaders, local
authorities governments, lawmakers and the general public;
§ To improve interaction and healthy
interrelation among the peoples of minority/majority relations, and strive to
eliminate discrimination practice misunderstanding, prejudices biases,
conflicts and disputes between and among minority/majority communities.
§ To equip the traditional leaders, women and
youth from three Somaliland minority groups the necessary advocacy skills and
knowledge on minority rights promotion and protection.
§ Setting out an agenda for minority groups’
empowerment that would create room for the establishment of strategies that
appropriately fit within the socioeconomic and political context of Somaliland
§ Institutional capacity of USWO staff on
organizational management skills and good practices, planning and
implementation of minority rights advocacy campaign, monitoring and evaluation,
community mapping skills through job trainings by the end of the project.
Expected
outputs
Because
of the project intervention, promotion of minority rights in this area will be
increased. The following changes are expected in the area:
§ 90
minority women and youth from the three outcast
minority groups (Gabooye, Tumaal and Yibir or Hebrews) acquire
basic advocacy skills and techniques;
§ 40 traditional leaders from both
minority/majority communities openly discuss
the hot issues challenging the ethnic relation and crafting the entry
points for the solution of these challenges
§ Over 700,000 persons capture and
understand the minority rights awareness messages through local media outlets
§ The discrimination and violations
against minority groups in Maroodi-jeex is decreased
§ Involving the minority/majority
traditional leaders in problem raised between the two communities
§ The staff and members of
implementing partner’s (USWO) skills and knowledge of effective organizational
management skills, minority rights advocacy campaign methods, monitoring and
evaluation techniques and community mapping skills increased and applied
§ Local Media covered minority
issues for the first time in Somaliland because of project minority rights
awareness activities.
Ubah Social Welfare Organization
(USWO) Head Office
Hargeisa – Somaliland
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