(ERGO) – Around 150 children from poor IDP families living in Raga-Idle camp in Beledweyne, Hiran, are now attending a free school after parents came together to construct two classrooms and two toilets.
Farah Mohamed Sanaey, a father of nine, enrolled his elder five children in the new school that opened in August and is happy they are getting an education for the first time since they joined the camp a year ago.
“I was hoping they would get education, but I couldn’t afford the fees. But my children are now getting free education. I am happy and I support this initiative,” he said.
Farah could not contribute money but he was willing to offer his time and energy to construct the classrooms.
He said it is good to see the children learning, with secular classes in the morning and Koranic lessons in the afternoon.
Farah works on construction sites, earnings $6-7 a day when he gets a job. He and his family were displaced from Buuco village, which was beset by conflict between the government forces and Al-Shabab militia. They left behind their house and three-hectare farm where they were growing vegetables and grains.
Four teachers who are also living in the camp teach at the new school, each earning $100. Parents contribute small amounts to raise money for their monthly salaries.
Another father, Abdiaziz Addow Ahmed, has enrolled eight of his children in the new school. He and his family have been living in the camp for six years and this is their first time in the classroom.
He contributed $9 to the construction costs and contributes about $5 a month to pay the teachers and run the school. He is pleased that his contribution has made such a difference.
“I am very happy, in the future these children will be among the leaders of this country, I hope. Every morning and afternoon, they attend school and Koranic lessons, I am very happy!” he beamed.
Two of his older children were earning a few shillings for the family as shoe-shiners, but Abdiaziz had no hesitation in stopping them from working, saying the little money they earned was no substitute for their education or future.
“When the school project started I was among the first people to support the idea because I have eight children without education and spending their time at home. My parents couldn’t give us an education, and the reason our situation has become so hard and we are living in the camp is because of our lack of education. If our parents had given us an education our lives would be different today,” he stated.
His wife runs a grocery shop in the camp. The family migrated from Ji’ibow village in Hiran after their four-hectare farm was flooded.
The idea to open a school came from the camp leaders, who organised fundraising among the camp residents.
The headteacher of Raga-Iddle school, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, had also been running awareness campaigns to sensitise parents over the need for education for their children. With a growing number of families joining the camp every year, he saw the need for a school.
“Our camp is far from the town or other schools. We decided to come together to bring education to the many children in the camp, so that they don’t end up being homeless children. We thank God since our work is now proceeding,” he said.
Although the school has been open for just three months, Mohamed said they need more learning materials and the rooms are very small for the 150 students. They hope to get more support to expand the school and advance their initiative.
