Making up for missed time
Nimo Hashim Ahmed (14) was displaced with her family and arrived at the Koloji IDP camp of Babili Woreda (District) in the Somali Region of Ethiopia four years ago from West Hararge, Oromia Region. Like many other young children in the camp, she had to leave almost everything behind in her home of Oromia region due to the conflict and was forced to move to the Somali Region. She has never been in formal or informal primary education because of lack of access to school when she was living in West Hararge: she was supporting her family by herding and taking care of their livestock.
Nimo has seven sisters and one brother; they are nine in total. Her father was a dealer in the cattle market and her mother is a housewife. Before displacement, her parents used to make a good income. Nimo’s family was happy and lived very comfortably – until they lost everything amidst the unrest and violence in the region.
“My parents do not have an income and we depend on government rations”.
Nimo Hashim Ahmed, 14
Currently, Nimo is enrolled in a Speed School Programme, thanks to funding from the Netherlands that supports UNICEF’s partnership with Geneva Global Ethiopia and the Organization for Welfare and Development in Action (OWDA). The Speed School approach offered in this programme provides accelerated learning support for out-of-school children, ages 9 through 14. Students cover the first three years of the Ethiopian government’s primary school curriculum in just ten months, enabling them to catch up on years of lost learning.
Nimo was introduced to the Speed School Programme through the administrators of the Koloji IDP camp. While it was a great opportunity, It can be difficult for children and adolescents to dive back into education when the time commitment needed to catch up is so great.
“One and a half years ago, I joined a school in the camp, but I had to drop out because I was ashamed to learn with children who are younger than me., But when I heard about this Speed School opportunity and found out that with good performance, I could quickly complete three grade levels in ten months, I was so excited.”
Nimo is a courageous girl who wants to continue her education despite all the challenges in her life. “Alhamdulillah (Thank God), I will be graduating with my sister in the next two weeks and – after taking the placement test given by the local Education Office – I will join the formal primary school in grade four,” says Nimo with great excitement.
“We learn about the alphabet and numbers and how to read and write. I love the Somali language the most as a subject and I perform well in all four subjects I am taking. The programme offers me the time to play, learn, discuss, and enjoy with my friends and discuss personal issues as well.”
“In my spare time, I learn the Quran and help my mother with household chores. My advice to my friends is to continue learning and wisely benefit from this golden opportunity, which is a light for them, and not to switch it off.”
Nimo’s dream is to be a role model to her friends and the community at large in education matters.
“I want to focus on my education. When I complete school, I want to be a doctor because I believe that I have a passion to care for people and help my community. I believe peace and education are the most important things to achieve our dreams in life,” says Nimo.
Source: UNICEF Ethiopia