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Lecture to Commemorate the Student Victims of Bombing Attack in Mogadishu
THE HAGUE- by Menno Ettema
On 19 December the International Coordinator of UNOY Peacebuilders was invited to speak at a small gathering organised by the Foundation HIRDA to commemorate victims of the bombing attack at the medical students’ graduation ceremony in Mogadishu, Somalia, earlier that month.
He emphasised that education for young people is about the skill of learning, reflecting and analysing the world around you. With knowledge comes that education for young people is about the skill of learning, reflecting and analysing the world around you. With knowledge comes understanding of the complex world we live in, which enables youth to find solutions and a positive way forward in life.
These medical students in Somalia took a brave decision, to take up responsibility and give to their society as doctors. Sadly, it takes just seconds for violence to destroy what takes years to build up, such as the training of doctors, and the consequences are felt for years, in this case lack of health care for all those in need in Somalia.
The talk was followed by short presentations by the director of HIRDA and the student’s organisation for Somali Youth in the Netherlands about the work they do. After 1 minute of silence to respect the victims of the violence in Somalia, a discussion unravelled with the Somali Diaspora community that was present about the work of UNOY Peacebuilders and HIRDA.
HIRDA is a Dutch Foundation run by members of the Somalia Diaspora community promoting and supporting education projects in Somalia.
Source: Newsletter UNOY ( for more info. see documents of HIRDA)
