Fatuma Ibrahim, a graduate from USAID's Adolescent Girls Education in Somalia Program shares her experience
Somalia’s education systems were largely destroyed by nearly three decades of conflict. As a result, nearly 85% of children are not enrolled in school. Girls can face additional barriers to attending school, including security restrictions, financial obstacles, early marriage, and adherence to strict gender roles. USAID is partnering with federal and state-level education ministries to establish quality education standards and expand access to education for 150,000 out-of-school children and young people, including over 80,000 girls and young women. Fatuma recently graduated from the Adolescent Girls' Education in Somalia Program, where she learned critical life skills, literacy and numeracy. USAID and the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office will reach more than 40,000 adolescent girls with this type of non-formal education course.