Garowe – Somalia’s civil war decimated the country’s education sector with formal teaching systems and infrastructures falling apart, qualified teachers fleeing the country and literacy rates plummeting.
Now, with adult literacy currently estimated at around 40 per cent of the Somali population of 18.3 million people, according to National Bureau of Statistics, the Somali authorities and civil society have been endeavouring to change this as part of the country’s development since the civil war’s end.
One of the people tackling this is Nasteho Mohamed Warsame, a 26-year-old volunteer teacher based in Garowe, the capital of the northern Federal Member State of Puntland.
“Somalia’s high illiteracy rate stems from multiple factors, including financial hardships that force many into low-income jobs,” says Ms. Warsame. “I noticed that women and children make up a significant portion of those unable to read. This inspired me to start a project that addresses the issue.”
Since 2021, she has been operating and overseeing the Nasteho Campaign for Education, a grassroots programme to teach literacy skills to local residents who never had the chance to learn, and with a special focus on women and children.
Unexpected start
Born in in the southern Somali city of Kismayo in 1999, Ms. Warsame later moved to Galkayo, in the north, with her family. She finished her secondary education at Goldogob Secondary School, near Galkayo, in 2017.
She went on to university education, earning a bachelor's degree in international relations and political science from East Africa University, Garowe Campus, in 2022.
She readily admits that, given her area of study, she had been considering a career outside of Somalia. A chance encounter in Garowe in late 2020 changed that.
"One day, while walking through a market, I saw an elderly woman in tears. When I asked what was wrong, she explained that a fraudster posing as a customer had tricked her. He bought items from her stall, claiming he had sent payment via mobile money, but it was a lie,” Ms. Warsame says. “As she couldn't read the messages or check her balance, she fell victim to the scam."
As with the rest of East Africa, mobile money apps are an increasingly popular payment method for goods and services in Somalia. According to Central Bank of Somalia’s annual report for 2023, approximately 75 per cent of the people in Somalia have used such payment methods over the past 16 years.
Consequently, basic literacy – especially numerical literacy – has become even more crucial for anyone engaging in financial transactions, whether as buyers or sellers.
The encounter with the elderly trader resonated in Ms. Warsame’s mind for days afterwards. After much consideration, she decided to do something closer to home instead of pursuing a career in international relations – in early 2021, she set up the Nasteho Campaign for Education, a grassroots, non-governmental organisation effort to improve literacy locally.
Initially, the initiative focused on teaching women traders on the safe use of mobile money.
At least three times per week, she visits local marketplaces in the early afternoon, during quieter times for local business, and holds dedicated, one-on-one classes with local traders.
“I divide the schedule into one to two hours for each woman, depending on her availability,” Ms. Warsame says. “At first, it was hard to coordinate, but they discovered that midday sessions worked best – so far, I’ve helped more than 100 women traders boost their mobile skills. I show them how to send and receive funds, check balances and avoid fraud using basic numeracy.”
There has been an added bonus for Ms. Warsame.
She noticed that some traders had kept their children from school so that they could help them with their businesses. Her efforts have helped change that.
“Some mothers relied on their children to help with mobile transactions, but after learning how to read and basic mathematics, these parents allowed their kids to go to class!" Ms. Warsame says.
Vulnerable communities
Over time, through research and community outreach, Ms. Warsame noticed that the literacy challenges she was tackling were not limited to local small businesses. This led to a decision in early 2024 to expand her efforts to adults and children residing in camps for internally displaced people (IDP) around Garowe.
“When women and girls have access to education, they can uplift entire communities. Educating mothers is key to empowering women. An educated mother helps her community grow. The least I can do is support, educate, and advocate for them,” Ms. Warsame says.
“So I began teaching reading and writing to children in IDP camps, starting at the Washington IDP camp near Garowe. Families allowed me to teach their children basic writing and math. Within a month, the number of enrolled children tripled – I started with 10 children, but the number has since grown to 30, including two girls,” she adds.
With the families dealing with loss and poverty, many of these children had dropped out of school to work odd jobs and help support their families.
“I began this journey immediately, and the community welcomed me warmly,” Ms. Warsame says. “I realised that when people are eager to learn, they can overcome any obstacle.”
Making a difference
Ms. Warsame set up her campaign with little in the way of assistance, except for goodwill and wishes of success. Her efforts in the markets and IDP camps involved setting up a small space to teach outside each location.
But her efforts have not gone unnoticed. In late 2024, the local government in Garowe, in collaboration with the IDP camps’ administration, provided her with a small block consisting of three classrooms to continue her support for the communities.
Ms. Warsame teaches daily in the camp, focusing on literacy and basic subjects, with the assistance of two volunteer teachers.
“I am delighted to see the positive impact of Ms. Warsame’s work. She is doing what the government should be doing. Her efforts to improve literacy are vital for societal development,” says the Deputy Mayor of Garowe, Mohamed Ali Mohamed.
Ms. Warsame relies on her family’s financial support to carry out her volunteer activities. She welcomes the backing of local authorities, but it is the impact her efforts have which motivate her.
One of those students impacted by her efforts, 16-year-old Abdikarim Mohamed, explains: “I earn a living by shining shoes and washing cars. Before, I couldn’t read or write, so checking payments on my phone was difficult. I often had to rely on others, some of whom took advantage of me. Thanks to Ms. Warsame, I can now manage on my own.”
Another student, Jamila Hassan Salad, continues: "I'm 17 years old and have never had any formal education. I support my family by working as a maid. Although I had a phone, I couldn’t check my balance because I couldn’t read. I met Nasteho at the Ingi Market in Garowe, and she welcomed me into her class at the Washington IDP camp. That’s where I learnt to read and write."
UN support
Working in support of Somali authorities, the United Nations in Somalia is making significant efforts to improve literacy and education in the Horn of Africa country. These efforts aim to enhance access to quality education for both children and adults. This includes implementing projects that teach literacy and essential life skills.
According to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), around 4.8 million children in Somalia aged 5-17 years were not attending school in 2023 for a wide variety of reasons.
In many parts of the country, parents cannot afford their children's education; they also face many barriers when trying to enrol their children in school. These include poverty, long distances to schools, and safety concerns.
Additionally, social norms that prioritise boys’ education further exacerbate the issue. Families struggle because there aren't enough teachers, especially female ones. They also deal with poor sanitation facilities. These difficulties are especially pronounced for girls.
Specifically, in IDP camps, UNICEF is supporting temporary learning shelters to provide education opportunities for displaced children. The support includes teaching and learning materials, providing training and incentives to teachers, and ensuring that the schools have access to safe water and sanitation facilities.
The world body’s goals for education align with those of Ms. Warsame.
“My long-term goal is to see empowered women and children, and I believe this can be achieved through quality education and awareness. Quality education is phenomenal in building a strong community, and it is my biggest dream,” she says.
“I will continue supporting the vulnerable communities in Garowe’s IDPs,” she adds. “And one day, their children will have the same level of education and their women the same level of empowerment as other communities in the city.”
