Aden (left) seated at the last row in class.

By Feisal Bihi & Rukia Abubakar

In a rural village in Garissa County, 14-year-old Aden Yussuf Hassan’s journey back to school is a testament of resilience and hope.  Aden dropped out of school four years ago, due to challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis, he eventually found himself herding  goats to support his family.

Through a UNICEF funded project, integrating child protection with nutrition and education, Save the Children, worked with the government Children Officer and Child Protection Volunteers (CPVs) to provide comprehensive case management for children in need of care and protection. Such was the case of Aden, who was initially identified by a CPV, who spearheaded an assessment leading to the referral of Aden to the Out Of School Children (OOSC) project supported by UNICEF for re-enrolment to school.  

Today, Aden is happily pursuing his studies and is currently in grade four in Primary School and is fuelled by a strong ambition to become an engineer and now has a renewed sense of purpose.  To enhance protection, Save the Children linked Aden’s family with its cash assistance program to cater for food and provide school materials. Thus, retaining Ahamed in school without resulting to harmful coping strategies that would predispose him to dropping out of school again. This has paved way for his successful journey back to school.

Aden’s reflections of his past is a journey of resilience and determination, coloured by the vivid memories of his days as a goat herder. As he gazes into the distance, his eyes reflect both the hardships he endured and the dreams that sustained him through those challenging times.

"I used to spend my days under the scorching sun, tending to the goats, it was tough work, but it was all we had to make ends meet for my family. Deep down, I always yearned for something beyond the fields and the animals, I missed the feeling of learning, of being surrounded by books and teachers who inspired me to dream. There were moments when I felt discouraged, when the weight of our circumstances seemed insurmountable, but I never lost sight of my dreams. I knew that education held the key to unlocking a brighter future, not just for myself but for my family as well.

When Save the Children reached out to our community through the CPVs, it felt like a lifeline. They saw potential in me when others overlooked it. They believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself. They provided my family with financial assistance, which helped me get school supplies easing the burden on my family. Most importantly, they gave me the encouragement and guidance I needed to pursue my dreams. Now, every day in school feels like a step closer to becoming the engineer I have always dreamed of being. I'm not just studying to pass exams but to build a better future for myself and for those around me. And none of this would have been possible without support from Save the Children." He explains.

As Aden reflects on his journey, his eyes shimmer with a newfound sense of purpose. "I may have started my story as a goat herder, but I refuse to let that define my future," he asserts. "With education as my compass and Save the Children as my guiding light, I know that nothing can stand in the way of my dreams."

Through UNICEF funding, Save the Children in Garissa has been implementing a project that integrates child protection with nutrition and education in its emergency related interventions. The project strives to ensure that children, adolescents, and adults’ access and receive appropriate and timely protection services. The project also seeks to strengthen the capacity of informal Community-Based Child Protection mechanisms (CBCPMs) and formal government structures to foster a safe and nurturing environment for children.