Renovation

Although the Somali federal government allocates funding for education, much of it is not properly utilized by local and state governments due to various issues, primarily corruption. For this initial project, we plan to collaborate with Geelxoor Primary and Intermediate School in Qardho, Puntland, which is in urgent need of funding. This school will serve as the starting point for our broader efforts to support schools across the region, helping us understand how to best assist schools in Somalia. Additionally, it will act as a model for the infrastructure improvements we believe are necessary to advance education in the country.

Geelxoor and other schools in the region face significant challenges due to a lack of government funding. To begin with, schools like Geelxoor rely on guardians to pay a monthly fee for student enrollment, which leaves many children unable to access education during their formative years. The lack of funding also results in poorly maintained classrooms and a lack of many school essentials, such as a science lab, playground, and library. Support for teachers and staff is also minimal, with little funding available for training or professional development.

While there are many areas that could benefit from improvement at Geelxoor, we initially focused on enhancing the physical environment of the school. This included refurbishing classrooms (e.g., new floors and fresh paint) and improving the school's overall ambiance, such as upgrading the facade and adding a mural at the entrance. For a more detailed overview of the work we completed at Geelxoor, please refer to our full report.

Looking ahead, our primary objective is to build a fully equipped computer lab at Geelxoor, which will require careful floor planning to ensure the space is optimized for both learning and equipment. We will also need to source laptops, ensuring they are both affordable and durable for the students. Additionally, we plan to install satellite connectivity and strengthen the internet infrastructure to support digital learning for the student, This enhanced connectivity will not only benefit the students, but also help create opportunities for remote professional development for teachers that will in turn improve the overall quality of education for Geelxoor.

Providing students with proper exposure to science is another key focus. The computer lab will be an essential tool in making this a reality, but we hope to also provide the school with a proper science lab as well as allow students to be exposed to robotics and coding. Beyond the computer lab, we aim to enhance the overall educational environment by building a library, offering transportation to make schooling more accessible, and organizing fundraising events to help raise awareness and funds to enroll more students.