Hargeysa, Somaliland, November 11, 2006 (SL Times) – A new school to provide non-formal education to orphaned and underprivileged children was inaugurated in Hargeysa on Wednesday.

The school is to target girls who missed their formal education as a result of the past civil unrest loss of one or both parent or gender discrimination.

A variety of subject will be taught including the holy Qur’an, Islamic studies, Arabic and English language, and computer skills. After 2 years enrolment, students will be qualified to join regular schools.

ICRA’s founder is the Canadian-born Zaynab Smith. Text of her remarks at Wednesday’s opening is reproduced below:

“My name is Zaynab Smith; I am a Canadian Muslim living here in Somaliland. When I first arrived in Hargeysa, more than 5 years ago, I immediately felt the need to do something for the many orphaned and underprivileged children that I saw. I decided the best way that I could benefit the needy children in Hargeysa would be to establish a Local NGO within the community that would have international capability. For the past 4 years the Islamic Children's Rescue Agency, with the help of many ICRA representatives around the world, has been providing relief to orphaned children and their caregivers through the distribution of Islamic materials, food supplies, financial support and other basic needs.

It seems that these days' opening Local NGO's has become a bit of a trend and a business for some people. However, the ICRA organization is not out to benefit its members but is sincerely interested in helping to improve the quality of life for many of Somaliland's citizens. ICRA is a volunteer based organization and as its founder I have personally dedicated much of my time, energy and money to the organization, all for the Face of Allah, and my intention is to remain an un-paid volunteer for ICRA regardless of how large the organization expands.

Since the founding of the ICRA organization, it has been a dream of mine to open a school for orphaned and underprivileged children. A school providing high quality education that would enable its students to meet or exceed the regular school system standards. Today, by the Grace and Mercy of Allah, that dream has come true.

Today is a big day for us at the ICRA organization, although many of you may be wondering why we are causing so much noise for the opening of our school here in Hargeysa. But ICRA School is not 'just another school'. The opening of the ICRA School for Non-Formal Education is a landmark in the rehabilitation of Somaliland.

When I began the process of opening the school I came across many shocking statistics that caused me to change my mind about which type of children I wanted to educate. When I saw the reality that so many teenagers had missed their chance for a formal education and that of all the children currently accessing any type of education, only 35% are girls, I understood that the need to provide a foundation for education to older girls was a dire necessity for the future of Somaliland. The ICRA School will provide education to thousands of underprivileged girls that due to past civil conflicts and gender discrimination have passed the appropriate age to enter primary school.

As Muslims we are not trying to imply that our women and girls should strive to become the next President of Somaliland, but we are in fact instilling Islamic morals and values into our youth and encouraging our young girls to endeavor to become future teachers, nurses, doctors and mothers; benefiting the community and future generations.

After completing 2 years at the ICRA School students will be evaluated and transferred to the regular school system where they can continue and complete their education. The ICRA School will incorporate into the current NFE curriculum, classes for Quranic Studies, Islamic Studies, Arabic and English Language studies and Computer skills, which will enable its students to easily meet the requirements for entry into the formal school system.

As well as educating chidden, the ICRA School also provides Quranic studies, basic literacy and numeracy and vocational training to orphan caregivers to improve their quality of life and help enable them to provide for their families.

By the end of 2007 ICRA will build permanent School premises in Hargeysa and conduct surveys in all 5 regions of Somaliland in order to expand the program and meet the needs of all of Somaliland's children.

I would like to thank all of you for coming here today to help us celebrate the opening of the ICRA School for Non-Formal Education and I think that it is an obligation upon all of us to show appreciation to the students of the ICRA School who have taken the brave step towards the beginning of an education.”

Source: Somaliland Times