What’s it like to be in school for the first time ever!

Making new friends, having fun, and learning new things… schools for children are places of hope for a better future. Yet in places like the Somali region of Ethiopia where children and their families have been displaced due to climate-induced drought and floods, learning is more difficult. Despite having to leave their homes in search of food and water, many families moved to town centres where UNICEF is supporting a special education programme for children affected by the climate crisis.

“My job is to welcome children into class and set an example about having good behaviours,” says 11-year-old Abdiaziz, a student at the SPEED School Program. This is his first time being in school and he is excited. “I am lucky, I am learning, and the school gave me the role of class monitor.” 

While Abdiaziz tries his best to show good behaviours to his classmates, 10-year-old Sifan on the other hand is confident enough to stand in in front of her friends and read what she wrote. “My favourite subject is English, and I am going to teach the world that learning is best for 

UNICEF’s Education Officer, Mohammed Hassan, explains the programme that is helping children like Abdiaziz and Sifan, “This is a SPEED school class, where children go through an accelerated learning programme to catch up on their missed-out learning opportunities,” he said. “After a year, they are then able to join the formal primary education system.”

The programme also caters for younger children aged 5 and 6. There is also a child friendly space where they can play and learn together. Five-year-old Amra draws on her tiny blackboard and shows her art skills to the other girls. 

Apart from the classroom learning, children have time for fun! The volleyball court bring boys and girls together during a sport period.

But of course, there is still homework to be done. Abdifatah and his sister, displaced by drought, are also in school for the first time.

Their mother, Rukya said, “I am so proud of my children, before we lived in a remote area and there was no school. It was hard to leave but we had no choice, but look at my children, studying and they are happy as they feel, and I also believe, that they have a future now that they are getting educated.”

More than 2,400 (of which 1,134 are girls) climate affected children in the Dollo Ado, Dollo Bay and Guradamole Woredas,  Somali region of Ethiopia benefited from accelerated school programme. This programme has flexible learning time and condensed curriculum that helps children to be integrate into the formal primary school. UNICEF with generous funding from Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ) through the KfW Development Bank, is supporting the programme.