Beeles Qooqaani, 13 July, 2022—In an initiative meant to improve education standards by providing adequate and safe learning facilities, the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS) on Tuesday handed over a modern school to the community in Beeles Qooqaani, Jubbaland State.
The five-classroom block school was constructed as part of ATMIS’ Quick Impact Projects, through which projects that address the basic needs of local populations are undertaken.
Speaking at the handover of the school, the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC), Ms. Fiona Lortan, said that providing quality education was the foundation on which a new Somalia can be built.
“Somalia’s many years of conflict have massively affected socio-economic development, which then makes it difficult for people to have easy access to decent education and other basic human needs. Inadequate educational facilities tend to make children vulnerable to being involved in adverse activities such as joining militia groups as a way of sustaining themselves,” she said.
Turning to the students, Ms. Lortan had words of encouragement, “we should not be discouraged by poor conditions, nor by our humble backgrounds. In the world, there are many successful people who have come from very humble backgrounds. When you excel in your studies, you will excel in life and you will be able to make a positive contribution to your own society, to your country and even to the whole of mankind”.
The District Commissioner of Beeles Qooqaani, Musa Maalim Adan, said not only was the community going to benefit by educating their children in a safe and secure environment, they were also going to take care of the school for the sake of generations to come.
“We communicated our need for a good school in this area, and I am very happy that ATMIS responded favorably to us. This is a school from which generations of our people will benefit and we will take good care of it,” he said.
Beyond combat activities to degrade Al-Shabaab, ATMIS troops operating in Jubbaland State have done several Quick Impact Project which include drilling water points, refurbishing hospitals and police stations, building and furnishing schools and markets, as well as supporting women’s groups in various income-generating projects.
