Educate Displaced Children in Somalia for a Year

Introduction

Somalia’s humanitarian crisis remains severe and protracted, driven by recurrent drought, conflict, disease outbreaks, high food prices, and declining humanitarian resources. Recurrent climate shocks, including failed rainy seasons, continue to contribute to prolonged dryness and water shortages, devastating agriculture and pastoral livelihoods across the country. Current drought conditions are extreme across large parts of Somalia, threatening food security, livelihood, and peace in the region. An estimated 4.6+ million people have been affected, many of whom face high levels of food insecurity and lack access to safe water. Malnutrition rates, especially among young children, are rising sharply, and projections estimate up to 1.85 million children under five could suffer acute malnutrition through mid-2026 (UNICEF). The drought overlaps with ongoing conflict and displacement, pushing millions into internal displacement and urban camp settlements, leaving more learners out of school.

Across Somalia, school attendance rates continue to be severely affected by the ongoing drought. Millions of children are out of school; estimates suggest around 4.9 million children are not enrolled in formal education. Displaced children have even lower attendance, as little as 21% in some cases, compared to 39% for non-displaced peers. Children with disabilities face additional educational barriers, including a lack of awareness of their needs, a lack of specialized teachers, and the absence of supportive classroom assistance and appropriate infrastructure. (Education Cluster report).

Why Your Support Matters:

NAPAD’s Educate Displaced Children in Banadir, Somalia project directly addresses the intersecting challenges of drought, conflict, and displacement that are disrupting children’s access to education. As families are forced into displacement and basic survival needs take priority, education is often the first service lost, placing already vulnerable children at risk of long-term exclusion from learning.

Project Focus and Approach

The project aims to ensure that displaced children can continue their education despite crisis conditions by:

1. Establishing safe and inclusive learning spaces within IDP camps across the Banadir region, allowing children affected by drought and conflict to attend school in safe environments and remain connected to learning during periods of instability.
2. Reaching the most vulnerable children, particularly those who are newly displaced, out of school, or at high risk of dropping out due to poverty, food insecurity, and repeated displacement.
3. Promoting continuity and quality in education through the provision of essential scholastic materials, school meals, trained teachers, child-friendly learning environments, and structured educational programs, which are critical elements for delivering quality education in emergency settings.

Funding Status

To date, NAPAD has raised $807 toward the project’s total funding goal of $329,945. Continued support is urgently needed to expand access to education for displaced children in Banadir and to ensure that learning remains a source of stability, protection, and hope amid ongoing humanitarian challenges.

The Broader Impact of Your Donation

Investing in education during times of crisis creates lasting benefits that extend far beyond the classroom:

1. Education equips children with the knowledge and skills needed to become future leaders, entrepreneurs, and active contributors to the recovery and rebuilding of their communities.
2. Schools provide more than academic learning. They offer safe spaces where children can experience routine, protection, psychosocial support, and access to essential services, which is critical for displaced children affected by trauma and instability.
3. Educated children are better prepared to adapt to changing livelihoods and climate-related challenges, strengthening both individual and community resilience in the face of future crises.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

Supporting this project today ensures that displaced children are protected from the impacts of displacement while also safeguarding their long-term future. Education prevents a lifelong loss of opportunity by giving children the tools they need to survive, learn, and thrive despite crisis conditions.

Your donation today helps ensure that children do not lose their fundamental right to education simply because drought, conflict, and displacement have impacted their homes and communities. Together, we can provide hope, stability, and a pathway toward a more resilient and stable future for Somalia’s children.