Shama Institute for Cultural Exchange Delegates Project Manager Faduma Abukar to Represent the Institute at the 2nd Pop-Up for Refugee Inclusion in Assosa

Shama Institute for Cultural Exchange selected Faduma Abukar, Project Manager, to represent the institute at the 2nd Pop-Up for Refugee Inclusion in Assosa,recognizing her as the right person to advocate, engage, and speak on behalf of Shama and the refugee community in this important forum.

representatives from RRS, GIZ, UNHCR, refugee communities, and other partners to explore practical approaches to refugee inclusion, self-reliance, and community-led solutions.

Below is Faduma Abukar’s reflection from the visit:

Reflections from the RISE Innovation Lab – Assosa

As the Shama Institute for Cultural Exchange, our participation in the RISE Innovation Lab, which took place in Assosa, was more than attending a workshop. It was a deeply human experience that reshaped how we understand the reality of refugees, not only as it is told, but as it is lived.

Throughout the 3 days of the program in March 2026, conversations focused on exploring possibilities and opportunities. Working alongside refugees, government actors, and international organizations, we raised important questions: How can solutions emerge from within the community itself ? And how can refugees be further supported as active partners in shaping their own futures?

In this context, we contributed to the development of a community-based model to improve refugee shelters, led by a local committee and designed to balance support for the most vulnerable with opportunities for income generation.

While simple in design, the model reflects an important shift toward strengthening self-reliance and encouraging initiative.

Yet the most meaningful insights did not come from the discussion rooms. They came from the field.

There, many assumptions quietly faded. We witnessed lives being built day by day, ongoing efforts marked by patience and resilience.

We met individuals working with what they have, striving to create new beginnings.

We listened to stories of small but steady steps of work and quiet perseverance in search of opportunity.

One idea became clear: the potential is already there. It simply needs the space to grow.

At Shama, we believe that dignity is built and that the most sustainable solutions are those that come from within, from people, from their realities, and from their capabilities.

This experience was not an endpoint, but a beginning, a step toward deeper awareness and greater responsibility.

To be part of efforts that open pathways and support community-led initiatives: a change that begins with trust and grows into a future built through steady steps.

Shama Institute for Cultural Exchange Shame language Opportunity Dignity