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Breaking Down Barriers: EAA Foundation’s Mission in Somalia
In a groundbreaking venture, a whopping 127,237 disadvantaged youngsters have been welcomed into quality primary education in Somalia, thanks to the ‘Educate Your Children II’ project. This remarkable three-year mission is spearheaded by Education Above All Foundation’s Educate A Child (EAC) programme along with CARE USA, extending a helping hand to the youth.
According to the EAA Foundation, speaking to Gulf Times, they detailed how from 2021 through 2024, the focus was on enhancing educational infrastructure, upskilling 519 teachers, and maintaining an impressive 86% retention rate. The project signifies a huge leap forward in bridging the educational gaps in Somalia, providing hope and new possibilities for children who were once denied learning avenues.
Working tirelessly since 2013, the EAA Foundation, through its EAC programme, has been committed to uplifting the most vulnerable in Somalia. With several partnership projects under its belt, they’ve successfully brought 300,005 previously out-of-school children across Northeastern State, North Western State of Somalia, and South Central Somalia Zones back into classrooms. Collaborating with partners like CARE USA, Mercy Corps, and UNICEF, they’ve tackled educational barriers such as economic, social, disabilities, and gender biases, setting their sights on boosting enrollment and retention rates among children left in the margins due to ongoing strife and crises.
In Somalia, obstacles to education are manifold—ranging from economic hardships, scarcity of schools, poor infrastructure, to the dearth of qualified teachers. More than half of primary-aged children are not in school. Groups like girls, internally displaced individuals, and nomadic communities face severe vulnerabilities. These obstacles are intensified by persistent conflict and environmental upheavals, impairing schooling and affecting regular attendance.
Meet Iqra, a 12-year-old from Galkaio, Somalia, whose educational journey was fraught with hurdles. Financial hardships forced her to quit school in 2019. She nostalgically reminisced, “I missed my classmates and the school. My heart yearned to return, but circumstances didn’t favor me. Attending school always fills me with joy.”
Thanks to the Educate Your Children II initiative—a synergistic venture between EAC and CARE USA—Iqra found her way back to learning. The project offered accelerated learning modules, essential school provisions, and refurbished school infrastructure, paving her path back to education.
Today, Iqra shines in the fifth grade, her sights set on becoming a doctor, driven by her love for science and the Somali language, she is thrilled. “I adore being in school now! Our revamped classrooms help me study without distractions,” says Iqra, her zeal apparent.
Iqra’s story is just one glowing testament to how focused programs can revolutionize lives, even in the harshest environments, gifting children the opportunity for an enriched future. As the UN International Day of Education approaches, the EAA Foundation is prepping for the Walk for Education: CSR & Sustainability Fair, set for January 24 at the Museum of Islamic Arts Park in Doha. This event aspires to connect schools, businesses, and communities in a unified effort, underscoring awareness and generating funds for the Foundation’s worldwide educational pursuits targeting marginalized youth.
The day promises a host of activities—football tourneys, art workshops, emblematic walks, and a novel “Buy a Brick and Build a School” campaign. This initiative allows participants to contribute towards constructing schools for underserved, underprivileged, and disabled children in Qatar.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
