Local NGO Humanitarian Aid for Somali Education (SUHAYDA) is supporting the education of 860 children from poor and marginalized families in Mogadishu.
SUHAYDA chairman, Mohamed Ali Dahir, said the programme was funded by 143 individual local donors. He described the programme as a ‘Somali-owned initiative.’
“My children now go to school with the children of my neighbours. In fact I am feeling happy!” said Amina Ahmed, whose four children, including two girls, have been supported by SUHAYDA.
Abdullahi Mohamed Omar, 15, comes from a poor family who dropped out of school as his parents were not able to pay the fees.
“SUHAYDA supported me. I am now in form one in secondary school and my future is bright!” he said.
The NGO is assisting 120 orphaned children. It also offers skills training for adults from deprived communities. Khadija Hashi Ga’al, 40, learned tailoring and is now providing for her family.
“I work with a skill I learnt from SUHAYDA. My husband is jobless. I provide for the family, my children go to primary school and I hope they will have a good future,” Khadija said.
Mohamed Ali Dahir said poor and marginalized communities were struggling to keep up with the rest of society. Education was a way of bringing opportunity.
Sabirin Hassan Ahmed, 14, is in class five of primary school. “I attend the Salman Farisi School. My parents have no money. I like to learn maths. I also want to study nursing in the future,” she said.
Safiya Abdullahi, 43, a widow, said: “They helped three of my children go to school. My children don’t have a father and education is expensive in Mogadishu. Every month they pay $51 for the school fees of my two sons, who go to secondary school.”
