At ShelterBox, we believe preparedness is as vital as the aid itself. In humanitarian settings like Somalia, where emergencies can unfold without warning, even basic first aid skills can be the difference between life and death.
Our recent first aid workshop in Mogadishu proved this powerfully, when one participant had to put his new skills into action the very same day.
A training that became a lifeline
Earlier this year, Richard Nixon-Eckersall, our Head of Security, co-facilitated a multi-day safety and first aid workshop for our partners, the Juba Foundation.
“The First Aid workshop we delivered in the first week of our visit was enthusiastically welcomed by our partners. They have had a particularly challenging 6 months with a couple of critical incidents, so they recognised the importance and value of the workshop experience.
At the end of the sessions ShelterBox gifted 12 Individual Trauma Kits to our Juba Foundation partners.”
I think the standout moment has to be the fact that one of the Juba Foundation team performed CPR on an unconscious casualty at a football match in the evening of the final workshop day and saved the person’s life!
Abdirahim, a shelter engineer with the Juba Foundation, had only just completed the training when he was faced with a real emergency.
A life saved on the football field
“The CPR and first aid training truly changed how I respond to emergencies. Before, I felt unsure and hesitant, but the training gave me the confidence and skills to act quickly.”
I was able to save a life with CPR and, shortly after, helped a friend who was struggling to breathe after a fall during a Futsal 5-a-side football game in Mogadishu. Knowing I could make a real difference in those critical moments has been incredibly empowering and has shown me just how valuable this training is.
His quick thinking and decisive action saved his friend’s life.
Building skills and confidence
For Richard, this training in Somalia was part of a continuing effort to build local capacity:
“I facilitated a similar workshop in Somalia in April 2023, so this more recent event was a logical follow-on from that previous event. The audience was different but the workshop complemented what had been delivered last year.
The added value this year really came from us being able to introduce the Juba Foundation team to the contents of the Individual Trauma kit and then handover the sets we did. In addition to the work we have done with our partners in Somalia, other ShelterBox team members have held similar First Aid workshop events in Ethiopia, which have been equally successful.”
These sessions not only teach lifesaving skills – they also build confidence and resilience in communities that often face the unthinkable.
Delivering training in humanitarian settings
Operating in Somalia and other high-risk regions brings unique challenges. For Richard, drawing on past experience has been essential:
“I think it is probably one of the most important aspects of my role and is something that feels very natural to do. My previous career in the British Army gave me considerable experience of operating in some of the most austere and challenging environments, often within a humanitarian context.”
It is both rewarding and humbling to be able to contribute in this way as a member of the ShelterBox team.
Why first aid training matters
First aid knowledge gives frontline responders confidence to act when every second counts:
“Many of our Partners operate day in and day out in challenging and often dangerous locations, where the security environment is best described as dynamic.”
If we can give our partners even just a basic level of First Aid knowledge, then they can operate with greater confidence that they will be able to react quickly and effectively if the need arises.
In Somalia and elsewhere, this training is an essential part of ShelterBox’s humanitarian work.
Supporting communities in Somalia
This workshop was just one piece of our broader programme:
- In June, a ShelterBox team deployed to deliver security, safety, and emergency response preparedness training, including first aid sessions using CPR mannequins.
- Over the next three years, we’ll compare different shelter designs and materials to find what best protects families from extreme heat.
- We’re delivering training to representatives of communities we support in Baidoa and Dollow, building local capacity for the future.
Abdirahim’s story shows that preparedness can save lives – sometimes within hours the training is complete.
Learn more about our humanitarian programmes in Somalia and how you can help us support communities with lifesaving skills.
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The heading image captures the first aid training session in Somalia.
