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14 Community
of what Hargeisa as a city constitutes.
My few days in Somaliland have thrown me into a
paradoxical understanding of the aspiring self-declared
republic that is surrounded by complex protracted
crises but is successfully defending peace and stability
for the last 25 years.
On the one hand, its clan-based social structure
works as a source of stability and successful conflict
management and most importantly, as an impenetrable
shield against Al-Shabab’s influence.
On the other hand, the very system, quite
understandably, seems to be suspicious about over
excitement for foreign investment and westernised
economic development. The anxiety of the loss of
stability as well as social and cultural erosion that may
follow the stimulated economic liberalisation faces
the reality of persisted stagnation in providing basic
services such as food, water, education, health and the
infrastructure to Somalilanders.
For us, it is the question of education – what is the role
of education in transforming Somali society? How can
we create positive learning opportunities for Somali
youth to effectively facilitate their participation in
democracy, peacebuilding, and social transformation?
Dr Pherali is Senior Lecturer in Education and
International Development at UCL Institute of Education.
He teaches a course on Education, Conflict and Fragility
and coordinates the Network for Research in Education,
Conflict and Emergencies. Email: [email protected]
Turning migrants
into philanthropists
by investing in our
communities
Given immigrants’ growing numbers and
their expanding role in the economic, social,
and cultural life of nations across the globe,
Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and
Refugees (GCIR) has developed a toolkit that
provides grant makers with opportunities
to support immigrants through learning,
networking and collaboration.
Before migrants can become philanthropists, they
need to be settled and in a position to give to their
countries of origin. This is where philanthropy in
the host country comes in. Successful integration
of immigrants is necessary to make those in the
diaspora philanthropists. This is visible among the
early twentieth century US philanthropists who were
themselves immigrants, such as Andrew Carnegie, a
Scottish immigrant, who went on to found nearly 1,700
public libraries.
GCIR seeks to move the philanthropic field to advance
the contributions and address the needs of the world’s
growing and increasingly diverse immigrant and
refugee populations.
GCIR has developed an Immigrant Integration
Framework, which is among the key philanthropic
efforts to support immigrants. The tool can be used
by organisations, whether they have immigrant
specific funding initiatives or wish to incorporate the
immigrant and refugee dimension into their core grant
making programs.
FROM
TO
This suggests that:
‘… foundations can consider a range of grant making
strategies depending on their funding approaches, issue
priorities, geographic focus, and goals. By incorporating
immigrants into their grant making priorities, they can draw
upon myriad strategies for community building and social
change that philanthropy has long supported. These strategies
include but are not limited to: direct services, capacity building,
community outreach and education, leadership development,
organizing, advocacy, legal assistance, research, policy
analysis, communications, media, and litigation.
In summary, migration is one of the most effective tools
for reducing global poverty. Offering migrants legal
status, protection of their rights, ability and opportunity to
engage, become productive and to prosper is fundamental
in transforming them to philanthropists. Philanthropists
should support this cause proactively to increase the
number of philanthropists for future generations.
This toolkit is available for viewing, download and
usage online at www.Mojatu.com/CGI_Toolkit