Communities in Somalia are grappling with some of the world’s most complex and severe humanitarian crises. Extreme weather driven by climate change, including floods and droughts, coupled with cycles of internal conflict, has displaced 3.5 million people - many of whom have been forced to move multiple times as crises persist.
This challenging context has profoundly impacted children’s education, with over 3 million children thought to be out of school. Girls face even greater barriers due to poverty, early marriage, and traditional gender norms. For children living with disabilities, the lack of specialised support, resources, and facilities pose additional challenges, stretching educational institutions significantly to meet these students’ needs.
Education Cannot Wait: Somalia Drought Response
Education Cannot Wait: Somalia Drought Response was a programme delivered by CARE International, Mercy Corps, Daryeel Bulsho Guud (DBG) and Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO), which supported children in Somalia who have been impacted by multiple crises and displacement.
It worked with schools in Baidoa and Banadir to ensure learning spaces are safe and that quality, supportive teaching is also available to boys and girls, including children living with disabilities. Between September 2023 - June 2024, the project supported over 43,000 children to access safe, quality education, including over 24,000 girls and 5,600 children living with disabilities.
One woman’s vision for education for all
Habiba Mohamed is the founder of the Mustaqbal Integrated School, which supports 1800 children, including 450 with special educational needs. The community served by the school has been deeply impacted by displacement: the area hosts around 300 camps for internally displaced people, with 30,000 households there impacted by the 2022 drought and 2023 Niño floods.
The school was founded in 2017, when Habiba rented a single room for 13 students. She undertook the task of running the school entirely by herself, working as a teacher, headmaster, and tireless advocate for resources to support children living with disabilities. The school is now an integral part of the community, and the single rented room has grown to 20 permanent classrooms.
I dreamt of this back when I was first starting with one room, and now to see it blossom like this, is clear motivation for me to keep on going. I have now established Mustaqbal Disability Centre which will cater for disabled children. I want this to be a foundation as well as a university for disabled children and be an example to others nationwide.’’
- Habiba Mohamed
In 2023, the Education Cannot Wait project began working with Mustaqbal school through its partner Mercy Corps. The project provided learning materials and curriculum textbooks for 400 vulnerable children. It also provided teaching staff with monthly payments for their time, ensuring staff were supported to deliver quality education.
Supporting teachers with the resources they need to deliver quality education
One of these teachers is Ismael Omar Yusuf, who is Deaf and was also once a refugee himself. Now teaching at Mustaqbal School, Ismael uses sign language to deliver lessons across subjects including Somali, English, maths, and social science. His unique ability to connect with children with hearing needs means he is an invaluable asset to the school. Through the project, Ismael has received monthly payments and curriculum teacher guides, supporting him to deliver his lessons and better support his students' learning.
While the Education Cannot Wait Drought Response project came to an end in 2024, CARE International continues to work with communities in Somalia to ensure children – especially girls and children living with disabilities – have access to quality, inclusive education. These projects mean that children growing up in the most challenging of circumstances feel able and supported to achieve their goals, just like their teacher Ismael has done.
CARE International and partners gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided for this programme by the Education Cannot Wait Fund.
