“Some people question why I, as a girl, I go to school instead of staying at home to eventually marry and be in the kitchen, but I ignore those comments. I am forever grateful to them for educating me,” says Nafisa, a 16-year-old Child activist in Somalia.

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Meet Nafisa a spirited 16-year-old girl who is the second-born in a family of eight. She is currently in second year of the secondary school education in one of the schools in Mogadishu the capital city of Somalia. Her days begin before dawn, as she assists her mother in preparing breakfast for her siblings before setting off for school. It usually takes her about 10 to 15 minutes to reach school. However, there are days when she finds herself running a few minutes late due to helping out with household chores.

It was during her fourth-grade year, at just 9 years old, that Nafisa’s world shifted. Her head-teacher led her, her classmates, and other students to a meeting with Save the Children International (SCI) staffs that were shedding light on who a child is and what is child rights. This ignited a passion to learn more about child rights within her young heart. Eagerly, she would return home to share her newfound knowledge with her attentive parents.

As months passed SCI staffs kept holding different trainings in schools which became an eye opener for little Nafisa who before was unaware that anyone under the age of 18 years is considered a child. She would always wait for the days when trainings are arranged so that when she gets home in the afternoon, she would discuss into details with not only her parents but also her neighbours what she learnt such as the impact of corporal punishment and harmful practices and its harmful impact on the lives of young girls.

Her ability to communicate confidently and her eagerness to share knowledge made her a valuable addition to the child right club (CRC) members in her school. She then became among fifteen child champions from the child right club which consists of a diverse group that includes boys, girls, and children with disabilities.

As a Child Champion at her school, Nafisa takes on the responsibility of raising awareness, supporting her peers, and advocating for the rights of all children. The Child Champions team meets weekly, attentively planning individual and group activities for the upcoming week while reflecting on their achievements from the past week. Their activities range from community outreach to door-to-door campaigns in their homes and its surrounding neighbours where they advocate for the significance of education and emphasize that schools are free for all children.

Their door-to-door campaign on the importance of enrolling children to school bore fruits as parents brought and admitted their home staying children to Nafisa’s school. In addition to her local impact, Nafisa had the unique opportunity to represent Somali children at the COP28 Climate Change Summit in Dubai in November 2023. Meeting child champions from around the world was a humbling experience that broadened her perspectives on global issues.

Despite facing criticism from those who doubt her commitment to education due to her gender, she remains steadfast in her belief in the importance of education for all children, regardless of gender. Nafisa finds solace, and joy in her studies, her favourite subject is technology. She remains steadfast in her quest to make her parents proud and uplift her younger siblings in honour of the hardships they endured to provide her with an education.

Through her resilience, advocacy, and unwavering spirit, Nafisa dreams of a brighter tomorrow, where children are empowered, educated, and cherished, paving the way for a generation that upholds the rights of all. When she completes her education, Nafisa wants to further her studies till university and earn a degree in social work with the hope that she would also be among Save the Children staff in Somalia who are working tirelessly for Somali children.

 

Nafisa’s story:

 

"My name is Nafisa, I am sixteen years old, and I am currently in my second year of secondary school.”

“My family consists of eight siblings, and I am the second born. My parents worked hard to provide me with an education despite facing tough times.”

“Some people question why I, as a girl, I go to school instead of staying at home to eventually marry and be in the kitchen, but I ignore those comments. I am forever grateful to them for educating me.”

“Our school is not far from our home. It takes me less than fifteen minutes-walk to be at school. At a times I usually go late because I help my mother with household chores.”

“I am a member of the Child Champions team, consisting of fifteen children from both the community and various schools. Our team is inclusive, comprising both boys and girls, as well as children with disabilities.”

"I have friends in my class who live in different neighbourhoods. We study and do schoolwork together and support each other. Three of them are also child champions at our school, and we have been friends for over 5 years.”

“I was chosen to be a part of this team by my school principal, who recognized my passion for extracurricular activities and my dedication to advocating for child rights. My ability to speak confidently in front of others and my eagerness to share knowledge were key factors in my selection.”

“I vividly remember the day I grew passion for being a child advocate. I was in grade 4 and I was nine years old. We had Save the Children staff who came to our school. We were asked questions on what we knew about being a child and about child right.”

“Honestly, I did not know that a child was anyone below the age of 18. I attentively listened while SCI staffs were providing us with more details about how a child was, what rights a child had. When the meeting was over, I couldn’t wait till I reached home and shared what I learnt with my parents.”

“Over the months the number of trainings continued to grow. SCI staffs would come to school and train us on different topics such as abuses against children, creating awareness, and effective communication with other children. This training equipped me with valuable insights into the rights every child deserves, including food, shelter, education, and health.”

“The training also opened my eyes to essential aspects such as child participation in decision-making, the rights of children with disabilities, and various forms of child abuse, and the impact it had on children.”

“I remember whenever I received new knowledge, I would not only share it with my parents but would also talk to my neighbours and told them what I learnt.”

“Our Child Champions team holds weekly meetings where we plan both individual and group activities for the upcoming week. We also review our past week's accomplishments during these sessions.”

“On a weekly or sometimes daily basis, we engage in awareness campaigns, reaching out to other children in households. We emphasize the importance of education, asserting that there are free schools, and education is every child's right.”

“During our door-to-door activities, we address adults, discussing the harmful practice and its consequences. I actively advocate for an end of these practices, emphasizing its detrimental impact on the present and future lives of girls.”

“In addition to our regular activities, I had the privilege of representing Somali children at the COP28 Climate Change Summit in Dubai in November 2023. Meeting child champions from around the world was a humbling and honourable experience.”

“Our team adheres to a set schedule during meetings, allocating tasks to each member for the week, either individually or in groups. Weekends provide ample time for community gatherings and door-to-door activities. We collaborate with the community committee, emphasizing the importance of children participating in decisions that affect them.”

“One of our notable achievements is encouraging parents and children to enrol in schools. I personally witnessed a good number of three children joining our school in the primary level after our awareness campaigns.”

“I also successfully intervened in a case where a woman in my neighbourhood intended to subject her daughter to a harmful practice. Through persistent conversations, I managed to change her mind, and the daughter was spared from this harmful practice. This accomplishment brings me great joy.”

“My message to parents is a plea for collective efforts in ensuring that all children enjoy their rights. I envision a world where every child has access to education, similar to my own experiences, and where harmful practices like FGM cease to exist."

“In the future when I complete my secondary education and also earn a degree in Social work, I would like to work with Save the Children Somalia office so that I can work for Somali children.”

 

Background / Project information

Save the Children has worked in Somalia since 1951 when we set up a vocational school for orphaned boys in Somaliland. From the early 1970s, we have provided emergency assistance when the needs demand. Each year, about 650,000 people benefit from our longer-term development work in Health, Nutrition, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), Education, Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL), Child Protection, and Child Rights Governance. Youth unemployment remains one of the challenges toward peace and stabilization in Somalia. 73% of the Somali population are under 30 years old, and Somalia is one of the youngest countries in the world. Within this population, internally displaced youth, young returning refugees, and girls are among the most marginalized and at-risk groups. The youth came from the poorest and most deprived families, especially girls and IDP in Somalia lack the required employability skills to get a decent job or start a business. Unemployed girls are more at risk of poverty comparing with young boys. Early pregnancy, early marriage, inability to access health care, and unable to invest in their own families and children are among other factors preventing the realization of women's economic rights.

The project is designed to strengthen protection systems at the community, district, and national levels that aim to reach 2237 people (512 children, 645 male and 1080 female) - the most Internally displaced people, especially children and adolescents at risk of protection in Kismayo Somalia. Save the Children Somalia is proactively leveraging resources from other projects and fostering cross-sector collaboration to effectively respond to the pressing needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and children. By harnessing the synergies and expertise across various initiatives, Save the Children is able to optimize resource allocation and implement holistic interventions that comprehensively address the multifaceted challenges faced by IDPs and children in crisis. This strategic approach not only maximizes the impact of existing resources but also ensures a more coordinated and efficient response to the urgent needs of the affected communities.

In response to these needs, Save the Children in Somalia is currently implementing a three-year BMZ funded project aiming at the Economic and Social Empowerment of Youth (EASEY) in Somalia. The project will support the economic empowerment of young people who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET). Mogadishu, Garowe, and Baidoa towns are selected to pilot the BMZ-EASEY project in Somalia. Save the Children takes a distinctive, multilevel approach to ensure that youth make a successful transition to adulthood and break the cycle of poverty.