Mohamed

After war between different clans led to political instability and famine in his home country of Somalia, Mohamed was forced to flee his home at the age of two. In 1992, he and his family sought safety in Dadaab Ifo camp. There, Mohamed completed his primary and secondary education. Mohamed’s dream was to become a clinical officer.

“I knew most of our people needed doctors who can help them in treating diseases and coming up with the right diagnosis. So, I knew I was really needed by the community and that’s why I opted for a course in the medical field.” But Mohamed’s path to fulfilling his dream was a winding journey. After completing secondary school, Mohamed was presented with an opportunity to pursue a diploma in early childhood education.

After being a teacher for a few years, Mohamed was finally able to pursue his dream of becoming a clinical officer.

“Since I became a clinical officer, I have helped many people in diagnosing and treating some common diseases,” Mohamed shared with us. Mohamed interned for one year at Garissa County Referral Hospital, and then worked in private hospitals as a medical practitioner.

In 2019, Mohamed learned about the existence of RefugePoint’s Economic Mobility Pathways Project (EMPP), which connects refugees with the right skills, education and language abilities, with employers looking to fill job vacancies in Canada. Mohamed applied and was invited to interview for a job as a Continuing Care Assistant in Nova Scotia.

“My experience with RefugePoint was very wonderful. In fact, they were like a parent. They assisted me with tips to succeed in my interview, gave me parental care, facilitated my transport and exam fees, and helped me to prepare for the interview. They were very wonderful and I really congratulate them and I’m very grateful because there are very many people in the community who have proper skills and education but they just happen to be refugees and they need to be assisted the way I have been assisted,” Mohamed shared with us.

“I’d like to encourage my fellow colleagues who happen to be refugees with the right skills, knowledge and attitude and with a desire to deliver their skills but there is no place to work because they don’t have the right documentation. I’d like those who are students to work hard and get good grades and apply for the EMPP program so that if there are jobs abroad where their skills are needed, they may get the opportunity. I’d encourage them that there is a way to go. It is not like before where your hard work would still leave you in the camps. I believe if you work hard you can reach your targeted dreams.”

“Going to Canada as an EMPP candidate, I believe that I will showcase my skills because I know it is highly needed. I’ll practice and become more competent. I know I will meet many people from different cultures and religions and it will be an opportunity to share ideas and give proper care to the patients I will be responsible for. It is my hope that once in Canada, I will continue my education so that I will be in a position to become more competent. I will miss my family as they are not traveling with me, but I hope to keep in touch with them. I’ll also miss the good people of Kenya who I’m leaving behind,” Mohamed shared with us.

Mohamed traveled to Canada in September and is now working in a long-term care facility in Nova Scotia. Like Mohamed, the EMPP has facilitated over 123 candidates to receive job offers from employers in Canada. Of those, so far 12 have moved to Canada as permanent residents while the remaining 111 are in different stages of processing.