Stephen Lack

Abstract

With nearly half of the global refugee population under the age of 18, the importance of education in protracted refugee situations is universally recognized. This thesis will examine the impact of education in protracted refugee situations, by looking education in terms of economic opportunity and its role in the search for durable solutions. For this purpose, thirty four Somali refugees living in Kharaz refugee camp in southern Yemen were interviewed on the topics of education and employment. What became evident during the course of the research was that for the Somali refugees residing in Kharaz, education is measured in more than simple economic terms; it provides a tangible goal along with hope for a better future.

Department

Center for Migration and Refugee Studies

Degree Name

MA in Migration & Refugee Studies

Graduation Date

2-1-2012

Submission Date

January 2013

First Advisor

Ullah, Ahsan

Committee Member 1

Megahed, gwa

Committee Member 2

Khallaf, Shaden

Extent

57 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Library of Congress Subject Heading 1

Refugees -- Yemen.

Library of Congress Subject Heading 2

Refugees -- Education -- Yemen.

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

Comments

First and foremost, I would like to thank God, without His strength and guidance none of this would have been possible. Also, I want to thank my family for their support and encouragement throughout this process. For the last three years they have been by my side every step of the way. My Mother deserves special thanks for the endless hours she has spent editing my papers over the years, usually with an eight hour time difference and a deadline looming. Without my parents I would not have been able to complete this project. I would like to give a special thanks to my advisor Dr. Ahsan Ullah, who has encouraged and supported me from the beginning. I am also grateful for the valuable input and insight of Dr. Shaden Khallaf, she has been part of this process from the beginning. Dr. gwa Megahed deserves a special thanks, she helped to put me on this path when I was still an undergraduate. If not for her guidance this project might have never happened in the first place and three years later she is still a voice of reason and guidance when this project threatens to overwhelm me. I would also like thank Dr. Pat Richey, who has also been a guiding force in my research since I was an undergrad; he has always maged to put things into perspective. I cannot forget Maya, Jess, Emily, and Layma who began this program with me three years ago. The girls were there to motivate me, keep me on track when I needed it and encourage me when I was down, listened patiently when I needed someone to complain to, and gave advice when it was needed. We have shared a lot of good memories over the past few years and I will never forget those moments. A special thanks goes out to Abdulfatah Abdulkadir Ma'ow and Ali Mohamoud Hussien. Abdifatah and Ali Sheikh spent many hours conducting surveys and translating the results, this project would not have been possible without their hard work and dedication. I would also like to thank all those who participated in this study. Filly, to my friends and colleagues in Kharaz, I can never thank you enough for the endless hours spent avoiding the torturous heat of Kharaz in late summertime (which quite possibly is only equaled by the surface of the sun), mosquitos in the 'winter', and flies year around. How could I possibly forget the countless meals shared together, the many late nights spent desperately trying to meet deadlines, or the untold number of ping pong games played in our battle against boredom? Nor will I forget the laughs we shared, the lessons learned, and the memories made. My Friends, this research is dedicated to you.

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