Early years

Early years

Primary school years

Primary school years

Adolescence

Adolescence

 

Adolescence

© UNICEF/HQ00-0509-Chalasani

Young girls and women like these caught on camera in 2000 in Somalia normally trek long distances in search of water for domestic use. UNICEF's seeks to lessen their burden by providing adequate water supplies in urban and rural areas.

Among the youth many have known nothing but conflict and hardship for most of their lives. Many children and youth have suffered displacement and have observed, experienced and sometimes participated in violence. A majority have never experienced normal, stable social relationships and systems of governance. Since the deterioration of the educational system during the conflict period  many youth in the teenage age range have never been to school, and are  illiterate or only semi-literate. Lack of optimism about the possibilities the future holds for them is common among this group.

© UNICEF/HQ97-0756-Chalasani

A young, displaced girl carries a pile of firewood pile during floods in Central and Southern Somalia in 1997. UNICEF seeks to ensure that action is taken to alleviate the negative effects of severe emergencies on activities such as education.

There are growing categories of vulnerable children who are in need of special care and protection including:

1. Those who have been displaced within the country, such as people driven from their homes by conflict,   drought, floods, or other factors;

2. Children from minority groups, the very poor, orphans, disabled children, working children;

3. Children living on the streets, militia children and children in conflict with the law.

Girls are especially disadvantaged in most of these categories. Gender discrimination is deeply rooted in the traditional socio-cultural structures of Somali society and is a formidable barrier to women's participation in decision-making and access to resources.