The Somalia Project was created as a faculty and student exchange program between Eastern Michigan University and Somalia. The objective of the project was to assist Somalia in preparing graduates of the Intermediate School to teach in the primary schools. Planning began in 1960, and in 1961 seven Somalian teachers were sent to EMU. In 1963, EMU sent faculty members to Somalia where they began a teacher training program. In 1968, the Somalian government decided that the objectives should be expanded to provide a college program leading to a degree, as well as preparing secondary graduates to teach in secondary schools. The project resulted in 400 Somalians graduating from the primary teacher preparation program. In addition, 60 Somalian teachers spent time in the United States in teacher education programs. In July of 1970, Somalia experienced government upheaval resulting in the abrupt end to the project. Somalian students who were attending EMU at that time were allowed to finish their education before returning to Somalia. Because EMU had built a national reputation from its teacher education outreach efforts in Somalia dating back to the 1950s, the United States Agency for International Development (AID) selected EMU to implement teacher education, science education, and business education programs in Yemen and to develop primary curriculum in Swaziland.