Group helps educate children from
poor families
Adnan Dahir Muhumed
University of Hargeisa –
Hargeisa
Mr. Abdirahman Dahir
Qormeye leads a local community development organization
called “ABDEEQ”. This organization works on the
development of the education, culture and covering part
of the social needs, that include helping needy people.
In an interview, I asked
what their organization stands for.
He said: “Our
organization has been established on the grass-roots of
developing our people who are recovering from the
destruction of the war (The war with Siyad Barre
regime). The number 1 priority of this organization is
to help young children to have an education. There are
many families who cannot avoid paying tuition fees for
their children. Therefore, this organization pays for
the education of some of these children in the primary
schools.
“In the secondary
schools, we look for students who pass with a high
grade, but their families are not able to pay the
university fees. So we choose them on the basis of their
grade and their need.”
Asked how they get the
funds the pay for the tuition fees, he said; “This
organization is different from other organization,
because we do not have contact with donor organizations.
The funds are collected only through the contributions
of organization members. This organization comprises
different people, from businessmen to government
officials who are willing to make charitable
contributions to help the children’s education. So,
this only comes through contributions.”
Abdirahman also added;
“So far, since the organization was established on 2003
we have made a lot of progress. We have even sent a
student to Sudan to study there. Actually, he won a
scholarship from his school, and we assisted him with
the travel expenses.”
Asked if they have
women members in their organization, he said; “Not yet,
because we are just starting, and since it is based on
contributions women are scarce in the workforce, and
they won’t be able to pay the contribute money for
school fees. But later in the future, we are hopeful
women will join and be able to contribute.”
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