Introduction
Gaari Dumar Center for Women’s Development organized the Girls’ Education Forum with the help of EFASOM. Following the increase in the number of women and girls who rushed into marriage at an early age and drop out of school, the Girls Education Forum was made as a result of that.
On October 11, 2021. Among the topics discussed at the forum were the policy of returning girls to school who rushed into marriage at a young age and the best way to improve the education of older women.
The essence of the main points been discussed in the forum include sustainable development can only be achieved when the future of our Nation is educated. It is a right we believe every girl should have access to even if they are married.
Gaari Dumar Center for Women’s Development with the help of EFASOM, we are sure to provide even more aspiring girls across the country with this Girls Education Forum opportunity. Girl’s education is something we truly emphasize upon.
Education creates more opportunities for women, and paves the way for women to help improve their own lives and the lives and condition of their community. Girls who receive more years of education enables them to remain longer in school, better support their future family, and pursue a self-supporting job. Educated women make better choices for health, nutrition, finances, and have higher self-esteem. They introduce healthier habits into their homes, increasing the likelihood of their children’s survival.
The forum took place at Gaari Dumar Center in Mugadisho, and 20 early married girls participated the form, most of whom were complaining about the difficulties they faced in getting back to school. Some of them quoted that it almost felt impossible to getting back to education due to the challenges that their marriage caused. Whether it’d been the house responsibility, husband rejected, financial barrier, or didn’t find anyone to take care of their children.
We advised and advocated them to go back to education and schools regardless of their circumstances. Speakers at the conference included Fatima Mohamed Ali “Adle”, Director of the Legal Department at the Ministry of Development & Human Rights, and the founder of Gaari Dumar Center for Women’s Development., and Maryan Adan Amin, Director of the Social Affairs Department in the Prime Minister’s Office, and Halima MaalimAbikar, a civil society activist. On October 12, 2021, we successfully held the Girls Education Forum School Reentry for early marriage girls that took place at the center of Gaari Dumar. 20 early married girls participated the forum. After Introduction, all participants asked the age they married and they all responded the age between 14-18.
What is early marriage? Asked the participants
Participants responses :
- Under the age of 20 is early marriage ▪︎ Under age of 16.
- At the age of school
- When person is not able to take responsibility.
- Early marriage is the age of 12
What are challenges caused you to drop out school? Asked the participants
Participants responses:
- The house responsibility.
- Income challenges.
- Financial barriers.
- I didn’t get someone to help and look after my child.
- My husband rejected.
- When I became pregnant I felt shy to go out.
What are the advantages? Asked the participants
Participants responses:
- To get children.
- To get fund.
- To be responsible.
Disadvantage
- Divorce
- School drop-out
- Healthy problems
- Family problems
- Self risk
How can you go back to school? Asked the participants
Participants response:
- Parents support.
- Parents encouragement.
- Self confidence.
- Financial support.
Advices:
- Advocate all the young girls to go back to school ▪︎ Don’t stop your school even if you are married.
- Respect yourself and parents.
- Mind yourself.
Success stories
Case one:
I drop out school and get married in early age after I got 2 children and divorced , my mother encouraged me and assisted me to look after my children and I went back to school today I am graduating from university .
Case two:
I got married when I finished my high school. After I get married my husband rejected me to go university, again I requested from him only the admission and I will manage the fund of my university, he accepted I work from beauty salon to manage the fees and my mum helps me to look for my son when I go to class session. Now I am the second year of university.
On October 13, 2021 The campaign to promote girls’ education was completed. Gaari Dumar Center for Women’s Development and EFASOM collaborated on the campaign. A meeting was held today for women working to improve girls’ education. We talked about the easiest way to get education to girls who married at an early age.
The Minister of Women and Human Rights Development, Member of Parliament Ms. Hanifa Mohamed Ibrahim closed the 3-day Women’s and Girls’ Education Forum in Mogadishu.
Mrs. Fatima Mohamed Ali the founder of Gaari Dumar Center for Women’s Development and the director of the legal department of the ministry of development and human rights awarded a Certificate of appreciation to the Minister of Women and Human Rights Development.
EFASOM was awarded a certificate of appreciation by H.E. Ms. Hanifa Mohamed Ibrahim, the Somalia’s Minister of Women & Human Rights Development. The purpose was to show how much efforts EFASOM has so far made in the campaign to promote education for girls and women.
In Conclusion
At the end of the forum, the following recommendations came out;
- This type of forum should be multiplied.
- Strengthen the campaign for returning girls to school.
- Develop a policy for the return of married girls to schools.
- To raise awareness for girls and parents for the completion of their education.
- Create opportunities for young mothers to complete their education.
- Paying education and transportation fees for the girls.
- Create jobs for women and make them self-sufficient so they could provide education needs for their children.