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The Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, through its Educate A Child (EAC) programme in collaboration with CARE USA, has successfully enrolled 127,237 marginalized children into quality primary education in Somalia under the ‘Educate Your Children II’ project. This three-year initiative, which ran from 2021 to 2024, has significantly improved access to education by addressing key barriers such as poverty, limited school infrastructure, and social inequalities.
EAA Foundation reported that the project not only improved school facilities but also trained 519 teachers, achieving an 86% student retention rate. Many children have transitioned from non-formal education into formal schooling, making a substantial impact on the Somali education landscape. This initiative is particularly critical in a country where over half of primary school-age children remain out of school due to challenges like poverty, ongoing conflict, environmental crises, and a lack of qualified teachers.
Since its involvement in Somalia in 2013, the EAA Foundation has worked extensively with key partners such as CARE USA, Mercy Corps, and UNICEF to address educational barriers. Collectively, these partnerships have resulted in the successful enrollment of 300,005 out-of-school children across Puntland, Somaliland, and South Central Somalia. The projects specifically target children from marginalized groups, including girls, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and nomadic populations who face unique educational barriers.
In Somalia, children like Iqra, a 12-year-old from Galkaio, represent the success stories emerging from the EAA’s initiatives. Iqra was forced to leave school in 2019 due to financial difficulties but was able to return after the intervention of the ‘Educate Your Children II’ project. The programme provided her with essential school materials, accelerated learning courses, and renovated school infrastructure, allowing her to continue her education. Now thriving in the fifth grade, Iqra has developed a passion for science and the Somali language, aspiring to become a doctor to serve her community.
The EAA Foundation’s efforts not only address educational gaps but also aim to break long-term cycles of poverty by empowering the next generation with essential skills and knowledge. The foundation’s continued focus on marginalized communities ensures that children affected by economic hardship, disabilities, and gender discrimination have access to safe and quality learning environments.
As part of its ongoing global education initiatives, the EAA Foundation is organizing the “Walk for Education: CSR & Sustainability Fair” on January 24, 2025, at the Museum of Islamic Arts Park in Doha. The event coincides with the United Nations International Day of Education and seeks to raise awareness and funds for the foundation’s educational projects worldwide. The event will bring together schools, corporate entities, and the broader community in support of quality education for all.
The “Walk for Education” will feature symbolic walks, a football tournament, art workshops, and the “Buy a Brick and Build a School” campaign, where attendees can contribute directly to the construction of schools for underprivileged children. These efforts highlight the importance of collective action in supporting global education initiatives and ensuring no child is left behind.
The impact of the EAA Foundation in Somalia demonstrates the transformative power of education in crisis-affected regions. By providing children with the tools they need to succeed academically, the foundation is paving the way for a brighter future where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to society.