(ERGO) – For 23-year-old Asma Ismail Ahmed, teaching is no longer confined to the classroom. Every afternoon, she goes from home to home in Hargeisa, teaching children and adults who were unable to attend school because of financial constraints or limited access to schools.
Asma began the service in May as part of a group of eight young teachers, visiting densely populated neighbourhoods across the city where there are few schools. The work provides her with a source of income and enables those who otherwise miss out to get educated. Each family pays between $5 and $10 a month, depending on what they can afford.
“We first explain to the parents what we teach and the lessons we can help their children with. We also show them how we teach and give them a short trial period so they can see the changes and progress their children are making. Once a family is satisfied with the way we teach, they then help us connect with other families,” Asma explained.
Her interest in teaching began when she was in middle school. Teaching now earns her between $150 and $200 a month that supports her family of six, who have also faced their own hardship.
Asma became the main provider for the household after her father, who worked as a house painter, lost his job with a company in February. After several difficult months during which the family struggled to afford food, she began taking on the teaching work. She is now able to cover household food costs and contribute to the education of her younger siblings.
“Financial hardship was the main reason I took this step. At the same time, we knew this service would benefit the community because many families cannot afford to send all their children to expensive schools. So this work helps both us and the community,” she said.
Demand for the service is growing as more families learn about it through the teachers’ door-to-door outreach.
“We try to teach each person according to their level of knowledge and what suits them. For a young child, we make the lessons simple and interesting, and we encourage them with kind words and praise,” she said. “For adults, we show them that education has no age limit and that learning can help them in their daily lives.”
A committee oversees the programme with nearly 200 young teachers, organised into different groups, now earning an income through home-based teaching. Most are recent secondary school graduates, like Nuura Ali Ahmed, 20, who joined the programme after completing secondary school at Sheikh Ali Ibrahim School this year.
She teaches in more than 40 homes across Hargeisa, mornings and afternoons, earning $200 to $300 a month. She contributes towards her family’s food, electricity and water, whilst saving up for her own education.
“My plan is to join university once I have enough money. I want to continue my education, but I don’t want to stop this work. If I get more clients, I would like to bring other young people into the work so that they can also earn an income,” she told Radio Ergo.
“I would advise young people not to wait only for formal employment. Everyone has knowledge or a skill that can benefit the community. If you have been educated, teach others. I started this work with the little knowledge I had, but today it helps me support my family and continue my education.”
Nuura began teaching in April and initially struggled to gain the trust of some parents. She said continued engagement and explanation of the programme eventually convinced more families to enrol their children.
The teachers work independently across Hargeisa, responding to the shortage of affordable education in some neighbourhoods. Families with limited incomes are offered lessons at lower rates. Each household typically has at least three learners, including children and adults.
Malyuun Omar Hussein, a parent, has enrolled her seven children, the youngest aged five. She bought a blackboard and other learning materials for the lessons held at home and pays $5 a month, about a quarter of what it would cost to send the children to school.
“My children are now students. They have been receiving lessons for two months,” she said. “They charge us a small and affordable fee to teach the children. It has benefited us, and the children understand the lessons well.”
Malyuun said she was considering giving up on the children’s educations because school fees of around $6 per child were difficult for the family to afford. Her husband, whose work is irregular, is the main source of household income.
The children are studying mathematics, Somali language, social studies and other basic lessons at home. Seeing their progress has encouraged Malyuun to consider joining the lessons herself.
