“My daughter is different from my other children who do not learn technical skills. Fatima* helps me with daily tasks, like fixing the electricity when it breaks down.”

Fatima*, a seventeen-year-old student in her second year at a Technical Secondary School in Mudug region, has transformed not only her life but also the lives of her family through the skills she has learned.

Fatima*'s family consists of seven members: her mother, her father, and her four siblings—two brothers and two sisters. Out of all her siblings, Fatima* is the only one attending technical school. Every day, she leaves for school at 7:30 AM and returns home by 12:30 PM, dedicated to mastering both technical and ordinary subjects.

At school, Fatima* studies ten subjects, which include three technical courses—Electricity, Carpentry, and Agriculture—and seven general subjects. Her passion lies particularly in Electricity and Carpentry. She has a deep fascination with how electrical systems work and enjoys the hands-on experience of building and fixing things. Her agricultural studies, which cover everything from growing crops to making drinks from fruits, add another layer of valuable skills to her education.

Fatima*'s dream is to utilize the skills she has acquired to support her parents and uplift her family's standard of living. She aspires to achieve a high level of expertise in her technical fields and hopes that vocational courses will be integrated into the broader curriculum of Puntland, allowing other students to benefit as she has.

The impact of Fatima*'s education extends beyond her personal growth. Her mother, Umayma*, has witnessed firsthand the benefits of Fatima*'s skills at home. Umayma* observed a distinct difference between her daughter Fatima* and her other children, who had not learned technical skills. Fatima* regularly helped with daily tasks around the house, such as repairing the electricity whenever it fails. Her education had a profoundly positive impact on their home, making everyday life more manageable and efficient. Umayma* believes that society and parents in their area have a positive perception of these skills, recognizing their practical value.

Fatima*’s school, established in 1993, now hosts 420 students, with 258 in the technical section, including 47 girls. The vice principal, Mohamud, emphasizes the importance of the vocational courses offered, where in the past, there was no technical school, which resulted in many young people not having any skills to work after finishing high school. But now, with professional teachers and a structured syllabus, both boys and girls can learn the same valuable skills.

Despite the significant progress, the school still faces challenges. Where there is need more resources and support to ensure every student can benefit fully from the education it provides. The school strives to equip students with practical skills that are immediately applicable, ensuring they are prepared for the workforce.

As she continues her studies, Fatima* remains committed to her dream of making a tangible difference in her family’s life and inspiring others in her community to pursue similar paths. Through her dedication and the support of her school and family, Fatima* is on a path to becoming a skilled professional who can contribute significantly to her society.

Looking ahead, Fatima* envisions a future where her technical expertise opens doors to numerous opportunities. She dreams of starting her own business in the fields of electricity or carpentry, providing valuable services to her community. Fatima* also hopes to mentor other young girls, encouraging them to pursue technical education and break traditional gender roles.

Fatima’s Story

“My name is Fatima*. I'm 17 years old, and I attend a Technical Secondary School in Mudug.

I am in my second year of high school.

My family consists of five children, my mother, my father, and my siblings (two boys and two girls).

I am the only one in my family who goes to this technical school. I arrive at 7:30 in the morning and leave at 12:30 pm. I study 10 subjects, including 3 technical subjects and 7 ordinary subjects.

I have attended my current school for two years, going five days a week from Saturday to Thursday.

The technical classes I take include Electricity, learning how to connect electricity, Carpentry, and Agriculture, which involves growing crops and making drinks from fruits.

I am very interested in the technical courses we take, especially in electricity and carpentry, which are my favorite TVET skills. I enjoy learning how electricity works and putting it into practice.

My dream is to work in the future with the skills I have learned and to support my parents. And I want to show other girls that they too can excel in technical fields and support their families.

I hope to achieve a high level of skill in the future. I would also hope that vocational courses be included in the curriculum of Puntland so that other students who do not attend this school can benefit.’’

Umayma*, Fatima*’s Mother

‘‘My name is Umayma*. I am 35 years old. I’m a mother of five, two boys and three daughters. My daughter Farihya attends the Technical Secondary School of Galkaio. She is in the second year of secondary school.

My daughter is different from my other children who do not learn technical skills. Fatima* helps me with daily tasks, like repairing the electricity when it fails.

Technical skills are of great benefit, and Fatima*'s education has had a positive impact on our home. Society and parents have a good perception of these skills.

Children attending the Technical School are taught agriculture, computer skills, and electricity.

I hope that other children living in the district will have the opportunity to benefit from learning these skills.’’

Mohamoud School Principal

‘‘My name is Mohamud. I am the vice principal of this technical secondary school. This school was established in 1993 and has 420 students.

The students in the technical section consist of a total of 258 students, with 211 boys and 47 girls.

Technical courses offered at the school include electricity, agriculture, and carpentry. There are also standard courses such as mathematics, physics, languages and so on.

In the technical section of the secondary school, everyone can study the courses they want, and the skills are not different for boys and girls. It is a coherent syllabus that every student studies in the same way.

In the past, there was no technical school in the district, which resulted in many young people not having any skills to work after finishing high school. There were no professional teachers to teach students TVET skills, but now that need has been covered through Waxbarashadu Waa Iftiin Project.’’

 

Project information:

Save the Children (SC), in partnership with CARE, is implementing the Waxbarashadu Waa Iftiin Phase IV (Education is Light IV) project, funded by the European Union from June 13, 2022, to June 14, 2025. This initiative aims to enhance educational access and quality in Puntland, Somalia, focusing on constructing and rehabilitating schools, teacher training, and distributing educational materials. The project supports 43 primary schools, 30 ABE Centers, and 3 Technical Secondary Schools across multiple regions, with a current enrollment of 17,726 children, 4,811 and 200 respectively including a significant number of girls. The primary objective is to improve educational attainment and employability through inclusive, equitable quality education and vocational training linked to employment opportunities.