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Query: faculty: "FMG" and publication year: "2009"

AuthorI.I.A. Absiye
TitleThe significance of social capital to the livelihoods of Somali refugee women in Eastleigh, Nairobi, Kenya
SupervisorN. Pouw
Year2009
Pages126
FacultyFaculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Institute/dept.FMG: International School for Humanities and Social Sciences
ProgrammeFMG International Development Studies
AbstractThe often forgotten refugee crisis in Africa continues to displace and shatter the lives of countless poor Africans as the number of armed conflicts and natural disasters continue to rise. Somalia, once a promising nation, is one of Africa’s poorest countries today, as a result of the 19 year civil war that has destroyed and shattered this nation and continues to do so till this very day. This forced hundreds of thousands to migrate to North America Europe. However, bulk migrated to Neighboring countries, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Yemen. Today, Somalis are the largest refugee population residing in Kenya. The results of this thesis illustrates some of the challenges these refugees endured as a result of forced migration and the Government of Kenya’s (GOK) policies and governance that undermines their livelihoods which lead to multifaceted problems. The GOK views these refugees as economic burden; however these refugees have proven to be socially and economic self-sufficient. This is mainly due to the strong social mechanisms and networks that exist within the Somali culture. Despite their economic independence, these refugees in Eastleigh/Nairobi continue to suffer and live in extreme difficult conditions.
Drawing on ethnographic and phenomenological research conducted in Nairobi from February to May 2009, I explore how Somali refugee women are able to mobilize and utilize their social capital as a means to sustain their livelihoods and those of their families. The theoretical framework of Sustainable livelihoods and social capital are central to the discussion concerning the survival of these refugee women. The theory of Gender and Development is examined to provide the theory behind the transformation of gender roles and gender relations within various levels of society of this once very patriarchal society. Finally, forced migration is examined to in order to comprehend the grounds and consequences of migration.
Document type scriptie master
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