By Lindsay Murphy | Communications Officer
Saida’s dream of becoming a teacher was shattered when she was only 17.
She was forced into marriage, became pregnant with triplets, and gave birth to four children all before she had even turned 20.
Instead of pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher, Saida spent her days cooking, cleaning, and caring for her children.
Saida’s story is not unique in Somalia, where barriers like early marriage, household responsibilities, and restrictive gender roles make staying in school nearly impossible for girls and women.
Somalia has some of the lowest enrollment and retention rates in the world for girls and young women. Only 23 percent of girls are fortunate enough to attend primary school, and even fewer attend secondary school – an appalling 96 percent of girls between the ages 14 and 17 are out of school.
Walking alone to-and-from school is a risk in itself. And upon arriving at school, female students have access to few, if any, girl-friendly spaces. Some schools don’t even have private latrines for girls.
With few female teachers, girls in Somalia have no role models or female advocates championing their education.
Thanks to your generous contributions, young women like Saida, are able to break free of this vicious cycle, pursue their dreams, unlock their economic potential, and empower other girls and young women to do the same.
Saida is one of 50 women currently attending a two-year-long teacher training at Amoud University in Borama, Somalia. Through the training program, Saida has developed a new sense of confidence. She engages in group discussions and frequently raises her hand to ask questions.
“When you are learning to become a teacher, you need to be confident in yourself,” she said. “Then when you’re in your classroom, you need to build the confidence in your students and encourage all to participate in class.”
With her own dreams unleashed, Saida hopes to pave the way for a better future for girls and young women in Somalia.
“I want to act as a role model for my community,” said Saida. “I want to be a teacher to empower the next generation of girls.”
Programs like this, which rely heavily on your support, set in motion long-lasting changes within communities and across the country.
Saida and the other trainees have committed to return to their hometowns to teach at their local schools for three years, providing girls in their communities with role models who will increase their confidence, help develop their skills, and advocate on their behalf.
The benefits of an educated female populace extend across entire communities – not just to girls and women. When women earn income, they invest 90 percent of it into their children and households for more nutritious food, school fees, and health care. Furthermore, a 10-percent increase in female enrollment is linked to a three-percent increase in GDP.
Your generous donations are bringing hope to girls and young women across Somalia and improving the quality of life for Somalia’s youngest generation – both male and female.
Change is not possible without your help. Thank you for helping set in motion long-lasting and far-reaching positive change in Somalia.
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