In the remote, hard-to-reach area of Elberde in Somalia’s Bakool region, a remarkable story of resilience, transformation, hope, and determination unfolds. This is the inspiring journey of 17-year-old Rukia Hassan Mohamed, whose life was once shaped by displacement and the humble demands of a pastoral existence. Today, as she confidently sits in Class 8 at Gargaar IDP School, awaiting her national primary certificate exam in a few months, she stands as a testament to the power of education and the incredible impact that I-LEARN projects in partnership with FCA can have on communities facing adversity in Elberde district.
Rukia Hassan is in her class, taking notes during a mathematics lesson.
Rukia’s story begins in a small village 30 km outside Elberde, where generations of her family lived as pastoralists. For them, herding goats, sheep, and other livestock was not just a livelihood, it was a way of life steeped in tradition. However, when climate change and recurrent droughts struck Somalia in 2020, the foundation of her family’s existence was shaken. They struggled to secure water, pasture, and shelter. The prolonged droughts not only left the land barren but also forced many families, including Rukia’s, to leave behind the only home they had ever known.
Displacement came suddenly in the summer of 2020. After years of recurring drought and the harsh realities of nature that left their livestock dead, Rukia’s family set out on a journey in search of stability and a chance to rebuild their lives. They eventually arrived at Gargaar IDP Camp in Elberde. Life in the camp was the opposite of what Rukia had known. “The wide-open spaces of our village were gone, replaced by tents and shelters everywhere. I missed the bleating of our goats and sheep, it was so quiet here, except for all the voices,” she recalls. Her days were filled with household chores, and as the second eldest of nine children, she often cared for her younger siblings while her parents sought work in the town.
The turning point in Rukia’s life came in 2021, when GREDO established a school at Gargaar IDP through the I-LEARN project to help displaced and marginalized children get an education. At first, Rukia was unsure. “I didn’t know if I could go to school because there was so much work at home,” she says. Her family’s daily chores kept her busy, but deep down, she felt a quiet hope. “I wanted to learn. I believed school could help me and my family have a better future, even with all the hardships,” she recalls.
With GREDO’s support, Rukia stepped into a learning center for the first time and enrolled in Cohort One of ABE Level One at Gargaar IDP School. It was here that Rukia discovered that education was not just about reading and writing, it was about realizing one’s potential and using knowledge as a tool for change.
Her teachers, recognizing her curiosity and resilience, gave her the support she had long needed. Abdullah, her mathematics teacher, said, “Even in the middle of a crisis, Rukia always showed up to school ready to learn. While some of her classmates dropped out, she was determined. Her determination reminds us that with the right support, displaced children can flourish just like any other child.”
Reflecting on her journey from an ABE Level One student to where she is now in Class 8, Rukia’s heart swells with pride. The challenges of her early life did not disappear, but education gave her an alternative narrative, one that allowed her to turn resilience shaped by hardship into academic and creative pursuits.
Rukia, second from the left, is holding a Somali book and reading with her classmates.
“I can’t express how happy I am being in Class 8 now,” Rukia said. “After all those years of hard work and dedication, and with the support I received from my teachers, parents, and GREDO, I finally have a chance to look back and say thank you as I look ahead to higher education.” She added, “I would like my younger siblings, who are now in Classes One, Five, and Six at Gargaar IDP School to receive the same support and opportunity to reach their potential.”
Her mother shared: “Rukia is my second eldest child. Enrolling her in school was not an easy decision, but it was the best decision I made. She was the one who encouraged me to enroll her younger siblings too. I never worried about school fees or learning materials all those years. I appreciate the support and opportunity given to us by GREDO in partnership with FCA, and I hope my children continue to receive the same support.”
Rukia will be among the first group of students to sit their final primary exam at Gargaar IDP School in June 2026. GREDO through I-LEARN project has enabled many children to dream of reaching their full potential, and new students continue to enroll every day. Rukia is among the dreamers who have remained committed since the start of the project.
GREDO, in partnership with FCA, is working in Elberde district in the Bakool region under the I-LEARN ECHO funded project to provide education for all displaced children. The project’s success can be measured not only by impressive enrollment numbers and the teachers recruited and trained but also through the voices of students like Rukia, who are being given a pathway to access higher education.