'Brick by brick' - How a construction site has transformed a refugee's journey towards self reliance in Ethiopia

For most of his life, Mohamed Sheikh Ahmed could never imagine earning a regular income, let alone supervising a professional team.

When conflict erupted in Somalia in 1991, Mohamed was just a teenager. Like thousands of others fleeing violence and uncertainty, he crossed into Ethiopia and found refuge in Kebribeyah Refugee Camp. What he thought would be a temporary stay became a lifetime. More than three decades later, Kebribeyah is still home.

“I arrived here in 1991 after the war,” Mohamed recalls. “At the time, we had no choice but to leave everything behind.”

Over the years, Mohamed built a family in the camp, raising eight children, and did his best to support them. But opportunities were scarce. Like many refugees, he depended mainly on humanitarian assistance and occasional daily labour jobs to supplement their needs, whenever work was available.

“Sometimes I worked on construction sites as a casual labourer,” he says. “Other times there was no work at all.”

"A chance I could not miss"

Everything changed when he heard about a vocational training opportunity under the European Union-funded Advancing Refugee Inclusion in Somali Region (ARISR) project, implemented by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and partners.

Initially, Mohamed was seeking an opportunity to improve his circumstances. What he found was the beginning of a new career.

He enrolled in a foremanship training programme delivered through Jigjiga Polytechnic College at the Satellite TVET Centre in Kebribeyah. The course provided practical skills in construction supervision, workplace safety, electrical installation and basic building techniques. Mohamed embraced the opportunity with determination.

“I knew this was a chance I could not miss,” he says. “I wanted to learn something that could change my life.”

His commitment quickly stood out.

After successfully completing the training and passing a series of assessments, Mohamed was recruited by Save the Environment Ethiopia (SeE), a partner implementing housing projects in the area. Today, he works as a foreman supervisor, overseeing construction activities and supporting teams of workers building homes for refugee and host communities.

The job has transformed his family's future.

Mohamed now earns a monthly salary, a significant improvement from the irregular income he once relied on. For the first time in years, he can plan ahead, provide stability for his children and meet household needs with greater confidence.

“Before this opportunity, my family depended almost entirely on assistance,” he explains. “Now I have a profession, a salary and hope for the future.”

Yet for Mohamed, the biggest change goes beyond income.

More than buildings taking shape

The training gave him confidence, skills and a renewed sense of purpose. He no longer sees himself as someone waiting for help, but as someone contributing to his community and building a future through his own efforts.

His ambitions have grown as well.

One day, he hopes to become an independent contractor, managing his own construction projects and creating jobs for others, especially fellow refugees and unemployed youth.

“If I continue learning and gaining experience, I want to start my own business,” he says. “I want to create opportunities for other people just as someone created an opportunity for me.”

Mohamed believes many young refugees possess untapped talent and potential. What they need, he says, is a chance.

He encourages young people to pursue vocational skills and education wherever opportunities arise.

“Learning a skill can change your life,” he says. “Young people should take every opportunity to learn and build their future.”

Today, as he walks through the construction sites he supervises, Mohamed sees more than buildings taking shape. He sees proof that refugees can thrive when allowed to develop their skills and contribute to society.

Grateful for the support of the European Union, UNHCR and Save the Environment Ethiopia, Mohamed hopes many more refugees will benefit from similar opportunities.

“This opportunity gave me dignity, confidence and a livelihood,” he says. “I hope other young refugees receive the same chance to become self-reliant and build a better future for themselves and their families.”

For Mohamed, the journey from refugee to supervisor is more than a personal success story. It is a reminder that investing in skills and inclusion can unlock potential, transform lives and turn hope into opportunity.