In 2005, ADRA Somalia began working in the coastal villages of Puntland, where it identified gaps in the education sector. One of ADRA’s key objectives was to improve access to quality education for the children in the area. At the time, the primary school in Hisbahale was in a dilapidated state, with insufficient infrastructure and inadequate teacher training.
ADRA Somalia addressed the challenges faced by the primary school in Hisbahale by initiating renovation and improvement activities. The goal was to increase the number of qualified teachers and provide them with the necessary training to engage students more effectively. To achieve this, ADRA introduced incentive programs to motivate the teachers, and upgraded the infrastructure of the school, including the construction of new classrooms.
According to Habiba Khalif, a teacher at Hisbahale Primary School in Hisbahale, vividly remembers the days when the school was in a deplorable state, with a leaking roof, broken windows, and dilapidated doors. “We used to hold classes in very difficult situations, with students getting soaked every time it rained, and the sun beating on their faces when it was hot,” she recalled.
In 2015, the school had to relocate to a new site due to the increase in the population of learners. However, the building that was previously used as the school has not gone to waste. The school has been transformed into a center for adult education, where women and men out of school can get an education. “This for me was another significant achievement by ADRA Somali, in transforming what was once a dilapidated building into a community education center.”, Habiba narrated.
The adult education classes are open to women and men of all ages who have missed out on education due to various reasons, including poverty, displacement, and conflict. Habiba continued by saying that she is happy the center has empowered many women in the community. “Before, many women in this community were illiterate and vulnerable, but now they are able to read, write, and make informed decisions.”
The learners at the center were grateful to ADRA for providing them with a safe and conducive environment to learn. “ADRA has transformed our lives,” said Hawo Abdullahi Dirshe, an adult learner at the center. “We now have a chance to learn, and this will help us escape poverty, and support our families better.” She added.
With a focus on quality education for more than a decade ADRA Somalia has been building and encouraging various societies by addressing ongoing challenges in the education landscape. The goal of having a future where every learner gets quality and accessible education has been ongoing since 2005. ADRA Somalia appreciates all stakeholders, partners and community for making education a priority to every learner in Somalia.
THE IMPACTFUL WASH INITIATIVE IN DILLIN
ADRA Somalia’s intervention in Dillin through its construction of two water dams and 12 latrines has been a successful and sustainable program that benefitted hundreds of residents of Dillin Village. These dams were funded through the Tsunami Project in 2009 and are still functional to date.
Before the construction of the dams, 300 households in Dillin were facing significant challenges in accessing water. They were affected by the tsunami that took place that year and swept everything leaving the communities with disaster. Many families could track kilometers to access water and latrines, therefore ADRA saw this as a severe consequence, especially for women and children who bore the brunt of walking long distances in search of water.
ADRA Somalia identified this challenge and deemed it necessary to construct 2 water dams to cater to the water needs of the community. The construction of the dams also came with 12 latrines, which played a significant role in improving the community’s sanitation. The dams are functional to date, thank to ADRA Somalia for their support.
Farhiya Abdi Aden a resident of Dillin village narrated that before the construction of the water dams and latrines she used to walk for kilometers to fetch water for her family and would often return while tired and exhausted, this saw her children missed school days due to lack of water and early meals.
Following the construction, Farhiya’s life improved significantly since then she had access to clean water and her family could get basic needs on time. Her children never missed school, and her family had access to good health and well-being.
According to Abshir Mohamed Jamac Dillin village leader, “ADRA worked in this location alone when no organization was around and these dams were constructed while I was in primary school, today I am the leader representing my people and its very fortunate to mee such an organization which left a footprint in our hearts and minds.”
However, with the increase in population, new challenges had emerged. Abshir explained that there was now a gap in toilets, and more latrines were needed to meet the demands of the community. He also expressed his concerns about the health of the women and children, as there was no Maternal and Child Health (MCH) facility in the village. It was challenging for women to travel long distances to seek medical care, especially during emergencies.
The latrines and water dams that ADRA Somalia had constructed in 2009 had been crucial in improving the health of the people in the village. ADRA’s footprint in Dillin is evident feedback they received from the community while they had no water crisis for years because the dams have provided the perfect solution. Women and children who used to spent hours searching for water have had much time to engage in other productive activities such as education. The construction of latrines has also been fostering better sanitation practices which contributed to healthier living conditions for the community
