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Radio Classes Reach Somali Children
FrontLines - April 2010
MOGADISHU, Somalia —
Decades of civil war in Somalia
have taken a toll on education,
with primary schools shattered
or closed, textbooks and other
supplies ruined, and illiteracy
soaring. Many young Somalis
have joined street gangs and
extremist groups.
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Somali children read from the USAID -supported Somalia Reader Series.
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So when the opportunity for a
free education arrived, children
were ready to attend. Hamda
Mohamed, an 8-year-old girl
attending Daami Learning Center
in Hargeisa, is one example.
“Before joining this learning
center, I did not know how to
read and write,” she said. “I
used to stay at home to help
with housework. Today I can
write a letter to someone.
“I like learning from the
radio. It’s fun and helps me
memorize educational songs.”
At the learning center, Hamda
participates in lessons supported
by the Somali Interactive Radio
Instruction Program (SIRIP), a
USAID initiative begun in 2009
to support those forced from
their homes by war or drought.
Carried out by Education
Development Center Inc., SIRIP
provides basic education for
children who have been out of
school. They learn to read, do
math, and tackle life skills.
SIRIP has established 245 learning
centers and enrolled more
than 24,000 out-of-school children
among displaced people and
other needy communities.
An important feature is the
radio component, which allows
Hamda and many others to take
part in daily lessons that use
games, songs, and drama. The
benefits aim to reach teachers
as well as students.
“Personally, as a teacher, the
radio programs have strengthened
my teaching skills,” says
Kaltoum Hassan Abdilahi of
Daami Learning Center. “I gain
a variety of teaching techniques
from each lesson. These include
classroom management, ways to
improve student motivation,
questioning techniques, etc.”
SIRIP also provided education
to 300 Gaboye children in
the Daami neighborhood center
in Hargeisa. The Gaboye people
are a marginalized group that has
historically been labeled as
untouchable by other Somali
clans. They have been subject
to mistreatment and degrading
conditions for years, resulting
in widespread poverty. Their
children’s basic rights to education
have been denied.
The Gaboye and other communities
have embraced SIRIP,
and parents have expressed their
appreciation. Beneficiaries are
required to establish a community
education committee to help
maintain the learning center and
support the teacher.
Hassan Isse Dubad is the
chairperson of the Daami committee.
“We are very proud for
these learning centers. I believe
that these learning centers will
transform the lifestyle of our
communities,” Dubad said.
“Before these learning centers
were established, our children
used to play on the streets without
doing anything,” he said. “But
now, thanks to Allah and to the
donor, our children are benefiting
from the free education. They are
busy with their studies all day.”
Though her parents are illiterate
and her father is unemployed,
Hamda understands the importance
of education.
“When I grow up,” she said,
“I want to be a teacher, to teach
children.”
This article was written by staff
from the Education Development
Center Inc. in Hargeisa.
★
FrontLines is published
by the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs
U.S. Agency for International Development
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Material should be submitted
by mail to Editor, FrontLines, USAID,
RRB, Suite 6.10, Washington, DC 20523-6100;
by FAX to 202-216-3035; or by e-mail to frontlines@usaid.gov
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