Tahrib’, is a Somali word which means trafficking and all Somali youths know too well in Somalia. Why? because it is one of the most popular strategies for escaping unemployment, conflictive environments, insecurity,poor quality of education, clannism, poverty, loneliness and the disappointment of failed dreams that has been prevalent in the country since the collapse of the central government of Somalia at the onset of 1991. For Mohamed Abdullahi Qorane 21, who is the eldest son to a family of 10 siblings and two parents and is residents of Kismayo town, he serves a good example of it. For him, it was a matter of living a life of destitution and hopelessness or taking the dangerous journey of crossing oceans to secure a “promising future”. He has completed his secondary education in one of the Kismayu schools but rather than enrolling for university admission as most students would, Mohamed dropped altogether. The promise of a better life in Europe was distracting and seemed more enticing than further studies

Figure 1: Mohamed, SADO vocational graduate (electricity trainee) installing a fan in one of Kismayu households

Without the knowledge of his parents, he decided to undertake the journey which involved travelling thousands of miles away from home and to through broker that do not require any money until he reaches Libya he was able to sneak out of Kismayu on 20th January 2017. Mohamed’s father who had some fear that his son might undertake “Tahrib” citing his dropout of education, immediately learnt that the boy escaped to Mogadishu. “I had the fear because some of his friends have made similar journey, it was a growing trend for Kismayu youngsters”Father said. He made every possible communication to friends, relatives, acquaintance, security units/personnel, and travel agencies in Mogadishu, Galkayo and Bosaaso, Luckily, Mohamed’s plan was intercepted at Bosaso town and was brought him back to Kismayu and with help of the Ministry of sports and youth of Jubaland state, Mohamed became one of the beneficiaries trainees of vocational subjects at SADO vocational centre- a programme that is designed to help the youth to gain competitive advantage in the work place -he was enrolled to electricity class!

After six months, Mohamed graduated as an electrician and received certificate alongside withstart-up input grant of USD 500. He bought a full set of electricity tool and started working as private electrician “I had taken my CV to the two electricity companies in Kismayu but I have not received any feedback, now I work for my own and earn a decent income” Mohamed said. Besides his failure of not getting a collar job quickly, he is still aspirated and believes later or sooner one day he will get good work. He continues looking for work, he did not get tired to visit private companies and electric power industries and submits his CV and only qualification he has (A certificates SADO awarded him after he graduated electric skill training for 6 months) in Kismayo 2017. Mohamed feels lucky to not make the Tahrib “It was a wrong, wrong decision going for “Tahrib”, now I am fully satisfied to be in my home city making enough income for my family and I thank to SADO and PEACE DIRECT for the opportunity they provided me” he added.