HARO

Digital Dangers & Opportunities

Both misinformation and disinformation are false or inaccurate information; however, the intent differs. Misinformation is shared without the intent to deceive, and the person sharing the information may believe it is true, however, disinformation is deliberately created and propagated to deceive people.

How to Identify and Counter Misinformation/Disinformation

• Clickbait and Sensationalism: Check outrageous claims with no evidence, headlines that don't match the article's content, and sites with unrelated ads or pop-ups.
• Deepfakes and Manipulated Media: Be cautious of unnatural lip movements or lighting issues, source verification, and claims of leaked content with no original source.
• Conspiracy Theories: Be aware of claims attacking institutions or people without proof, that employ "them" to villainize groups, and provide assertions that "everyone knows that except you."
• Misrepresented Statistics: Spot missing sample sizes or methodology details, graphs with manipulated axes, and quotes taken out of context from real studies.
• Suspicious URLs: Be cautious of URLs that seem like real sites (e.g., "nyt1ime.com" instead of "nytimes.com").
• Emotional Manipulation: Look for ALL CAPS headlines, excessive punctuation, and posts that want you to act fast without proof.

References

• Palfrey, J. (2025, March 28). Misinformation and disinformation. Encyclopedia Britannica.
• Somalia, D. (2025, January 1). How social media is a double-edged sword destroying Somali youth.
• Parker, C. (2024, August 5). Police scotch online lie that dog walker was killed by Somali migrants. The Times.

Scholarship Application Guide

This guide has been prepared by HornAidResilience Organisation (HARO) to support students from Somalia and across the Horn of Africa region in identifying, preparing for, and successfully applying to international scholarship opportunities.

Who This Guide Is For

• Secondary school graduates seeking undergraduate scholarships
• University students seeking master's or PhD funding
• Students with limited access to career counselling services
• Parents, teachers, and community mentors supporting applicants

Understanding Scholarship Types

Step-by-Step Application Process

Document Checklist

• Valid passport
• Certified academic transcripts and certificates
• Language proficiency test results
• Personal statement / statement of purpose
• Two to three letters of recommendation
• Updated CV/resume
• Passport-sized photographs
• Proof of identity or birth certificate

Trainings, Conferences & Forums

HARO's role as a connector bridges between opportunities and the communities it serves. HARO actively identifies international trainings, conferences, forums, scholarships, fellowships, and other development opportunities, and channels this information directly to young people across Somalia and the Horn of Africa, with particular attention to youth in underserved, remote, conflict-affected, and displacement-affected communities who are too often excluded from such opportunities due to limited access, information gaps, or lack of networks.

By proactively sharing these opportunities and supporting young people to access them, HARO works to level the playing field, ensuring that talent and potential — not privilege or proximity to information — determine who is able to benefit. This is paired with mentorship, guidance, and follow-up support, helping youth navigate application processes with confidence and turn opportunities into real pathways for growth.

Through this connecting role, HARO contributes to building a more informed, skilled, and empowered generation of young Somalis equipped to lead their communities' resilience and recovery efforts, reflecting the organisation's founding conviction that lasting change is built through partnership, information-sharing, and community ownership.