Faculty: Education
Program: Master of Science Education
Year: 2018
Country: Somalia
Abdifatah graduated in 2011 from the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) in Bangladesh with a Bachelor of Science in Technical Education in Computer Science and Information Technology. Since then, he has been a lecturer and teacher at various institutions in science-based courses. He worked with the Union of Somali Teacher Advocacy Development on a teacher training project and had the opportunity to volunteer with international organizations such as the Red Cross and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to distribute food, clean water, shelter and medicine to displaced people in refugee camps in the city of Mogadishu. Such unique involvements led him to start thinking about solutions involving basic education for children in his community.
Abdifatah believes that a Master of Education in Science Education from the University of British Columbia will help refine his existing leadership skills and build upon his current fundamental knowledge of Environmental Education. Abdifatah’s career goals involve poverty reduction, sustainable development and curriculum development. He is committed to establishing the first ever teacher training center in Somalia whereby all new teachers are trained with the required education and skills to succeed in their teaching duties. One of his long term goals is to provide basic education to children with disabilities (blind and deaf) in Somalia by establishing the first ever school of its kind for these children in Somalia by 2022. Abdifatah is also keen on establishing the first ever environmental education awareness Non-Governmental Organization in Somalia with an aim to increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues. He hopes that through this initiative, the public will remain informed and equipped with the necessary skills to take responsible action.