Thursday, May 19, 2016
Photo | Amina Abdullahi and her eager students/Abdirahman Haji/Ergo
(ERGO) - Nine young women graduates and students in Garowe have set up an education centre to help children who have been forced to go out to work due to poverty.
Sundus Abdinoor 22, a political science major at the University of East of Africa, has been approaching the children at their work places and encouraging them to come for free classes and lunch.
“We convinced them that we will teach them well. The free meals will encourage them to attend the lessons and not to skip school because getting a lunch is normally hard for them. They are increasing in number every day,” she told Radio Ergo. “But the girls do not come regularly because they are usually busy begging in the street to support their families.”
So far 35 children aged between seven and 15 are attending the school. Most are boys working as shoe shiners and car wash attendants. There are eight girls.
Most of the children are orphans and from poor families.
The school was set up in March on the veranda of the offices a local community organization, SAMOFAL. Classes are held from 1- 3 pm from Saturday to Wednesday. SAMOFAL supports the school lunches and provides educational materials such as books and pens.
The women running the project have divided the tasks. Three of them organise food for the children, while six who have received training form SAMOFAL conduct the lessons.
When lessons end, the children return to their street jobs to earn money for their families. The women who are still studying go to their university classes.
Mohamed Hassan, 13, said he rushes with his car cleaning kit to the centre at midday prayers. “Even if I didn’t get a car to wash in the morning, I still go to the school. I want to excel in my education,” he said.
The children are taught mathematics, Somali and Islamic Studies, according to Amina Abdullahi Abdi, 23, who is one of the volunteer teachers. Children who already know basic mathematics and writing are also given English and Arabic language lessons.
“We give them our time to teach them. It is work experience for us and an opportunity to learn for them,” said Amina, a graduate in community development from the University of East Africa last year.
Fatima Diriye, head of SAMOFAL, told Radio Ergo that the initiative is part of a project to support female university students to gain work experience. She said the project would be expanded if the first six months showed good results and commitment from the children.