Now in their second year of a four-year degree at Edna Adan University Hospital, the students are undertaking classroom studies and clinical skills training before beginning maternity ward placements and community outreach in 2027.
Funded by BKFA in 2025, the scholarships cover tuition, accommodation and living expenses, making it possible for the students to complete their studies before returning home to provide skilled maternity care in underserved rural communities.
For many women living in rural Somaliland, access to a trained midwife is limited or non-existent. Without skilled care during pregnancy and childbirth, mothers and babies face significantly greater risks of complications and death.
That’s why BKFA’s scholarship recipients have been selected from rural communities where the need is greatest. By supporting local women to become qualified midwives, the program is building a healthcare workforce that understands the language, culture and challenges of the communities it will serve.
When they graduate in 2029, all four students will return home to provide skilled maternity care, helping strengthen local health services and improve outcomes for women and babies for generations to come.
For scholarship recipient Marwa Ahmed, the opportunity has been life changing.
“I am so thankful for this scholarship. It is a dream come true for me and my family. I come from a small village, and now I can learn to help women have safe births. When mothers are safe, our whole community grows stronger.”
The scholarships form part of BKFA’s broader commitment to strengthening maternal healthcare beyond the birth kit by investing in education, local leadership and community-led solutions that create lasting change.