Hunger crisis in Africa

Somalia is one of the poorest and least developed countries in Africa. 60 percent of the population are nomads and don’t have a permanent home. As a result, many of their children don’t have regular access to education. Moreover, many schools have been destroyed or seriously damaged during the long-lasting civil war. The former government was not able to establish a proper educational system. Many children, teenagers and adults are suffering from the lack of education, which leads them even deeper into poverty.

Since the election in 2012 Somalia has a new government, which strives to build up and reorganize a new educational system. For this purpose, a new ministry of education has been founded. Our member organization ADRA supports the ministry in rebuilding schools, developing new curriculums, courses, and school lessons for children, teenagers and adults. The program focuses especially on girls and women. The aim is to strengthen their access to educational programs and school lessons.

22 year old Hamdo is one of the participants of the ADRA educational program. She was just in 5th grade at school when her family fled from the capital to save their lives. She has never attended a school again. Instead, she cared for her family, particularly her sick mother and her six siblings. She thought her dream to become a doctor had been destroyed forever. But since she is participating in the ADRA program, she has new hope and says: “I very much appreciate what ADRA is doing for me. I have a chance to learn and to become independent. After all my dream could come true.“

Nevertheless, many families need their children to help them with their daily work on the field or in the house. Therefore, they only have the evening hours to do their homework or to learn for school. Somalia’s power supply is very poor and many households remain dark after the early sunset. Dangerous open fires and harmful paraffin lamps are often the only option to have some light. ADRA helps to establish solar systems and lamps. In the past more than 10.000 houses have been supplied with energy-efficient cooking areas and solar lamps and 15 schools can offer school lessons and courses in the evening due to new electricity!

With your donation, you help our organizations to offer educational programs in several parts of the world. Thank you for making this possible!