Somalilandsun- Over 50 Schools are participating in an Education In Emergency Response To Support The Most Vulnerable Children Affected by SAGAR in Awdal Region
The three months project which targets 9000 of school age going children is being implemented by AYODA a Local NGO with funding from UNICEF.
The program launch at the at the Garbodadar primary school in Lugahaya district of Awdal Region was witnessed by regional ministry of education officials, district officials , teachers, parents , traditional/religious and Bussines leaders in addition to large number of target beneficiaries among others.
Briefing the launch the AYODA education field officer Ahmed Yusuf Madar informed that the project which specifically targets School age children denied opportunity through effects of the SAGAR cyclone is free of charges courtesy of UNICEF.
Said he, “We are urging parents of school age children currently not school to take advantage of this Education In Emergency Response To Support The Most Vulnerable Children Affected by SAGAR because it is not only free of charges but beneficial to all of us”
According to the NGO’s functionary the three months project targets new school registration of 9000 school age children in 50 institutions of primary education learning.
“The partnership between implementing NGO of AYODA and donors UNICEF shall be undertaken in the Lugahaya, Baki and Borame districts of Awdal Region
This program comes at an apt moment for many families in the region who a staggering economically due to the Effects of SAGAR Cyclone that left them destitute following death of entire herds of livestock and distraction to farmlands, the two main means of livelihoods for most.
In conclusion the development worker said that the main purpose of AYODA at the current stage of the project is to raise awareness of the UNICEF Funded education opportunity while the overall goal of the donor is to ensure school age children do not miss out due to economic difficulties.
The three months Education In Emergency Response To Support The Most Vulnerable Children Affected by SAGAR in Awdal Region Which started in late September 2018 shall concluded in November with hopefully the target of 9000 new school registrations.
Thanking both the implementing and donor agencies of AYODA and UNICEF for the education opportunity availed children in Awadal region the Lugahaya district officer Abdi Abdillahi Elmi (Cabdi Hindi) promised full support from the local authority.
According to the administration officer , his Lugahaya district shall most likely surpass the target figure of 180 new school registrations apportioned for 50 primary schools in the region.
“It is a fact that a large number of school age going children in our district are not in school due to poverty induced by the SAGAR Cyclone as well as from prolonged drought” said Cabdi Hindi adding that the emergence education program is part of others required thence alleviate livelihood difficulties.
Said he, “Apart from non school attendance most children are also faced with malnourishment and other health issues among others which shall hopefully be attended to also”
The chairman of the Garbodadar primary school parents teachers association Ismail Elmi Ayanan also extend thanks to AYODA and UNICEF for facilitating the emergency education program while promising full support until completion.
“Over 90% of our local community is facing severe livelihood constraints caused by numerous natural disasters of the recent past resulting in our school being left empty” said the elder Adding that full advantage of the Education In Emergency Response To Support The Most Vulnerable Children Affected by SAGAR Cyclone shall be taken, Elder Ismail Elmi who said their school might surpass the targeted 180 new registrations asked for consideration if it thus transpires.
Stressing that that the SAGAR Cylone also displaced a large number of Lugahaya residents , the Garbodadar school parents teachers association boss said the UNICEF Funded education project under implementation by AYODA LNGO shall surely enticed many to return home.
Said he, “thanks to the organizers this is not only an educational project but one that shall facilitate the return of internally displaced residents of most parts of Awdal Region, thence a semblance of normalcy despite severe effects of natural disasters.
In conclusion and upon reiterating full support and participation in the project as well the elder said that neither the Donor nor implementing agencies should be worried of success since “it is to the community’s benefit which obligates full participation without coercion”
Informing that she and her family had benefited from an earlier and similar program, a Garbodadar primary school parent Ms Anab Nur Awale said that the new education in emergency shall also be utilized accordingly.
“We highly appreciate the availability of learning tools, teachers salaries and the free of charge schooling that this program brings”Said Anab a mother of six.
According to the parent, residents of Lugahaya district and those of the wider Awdal region of Somaliland are slowly coming out of displacement and loss of livelihoods induced by prolonged drought and subsequent tropical Cyclone courtesy of partnership by Agencies like UNICEF and AYODA as well as the ministry of education and science.
While the project was launched at the Garbodadar primary school in Lugahaya district , the Awdal Region based AYODA non governmental organization shall undertaken similar activities in 49 other primary schools some in the same district as well as in neighbouring Baki and Borame.
In mid 2018 At least 15 people died in various parts of Awdal Region after heavy rains caused by tropical cyclone Sagar.
Apart from the dead many others sustained severe injuries while many others were internally displaced not to mention destruction of then nearing harvest farmlands as well as loss of entire herds of livestock’s.
The human suffering caused by the tropical cyclone upon communities in the Awdal region came in the heels of constraints occasioned by severe and prolonged drought that engulfed Somaliland for a number of years.
Africa Youth Development Association (AYODA) is non-profit, non-political, non religious organization, it is development oriented organization founded in Jan, 2003.
It was established by a group of youth intellectuals based in Borama the regional capital of Awdal. So as to take part the developmental activities in Somaliland to help the community at large. AYODA believes that community can create sustainable solution for the problems they face. Read More about AYODA
