In Dadaab, one of the world’s largest refugee camps, Accelerated Education Centers are giving out-of-school girls like 15-year-old Ifrah Ahmed Garad a second chance at education and a brighter future. Unlike her mother, who never had the opportunity to study, Ifrah has thrived since enrolling at Badbado Accelerated Education Center, completing catch-up classes and transitioning to formal schooling. With support from Save the Children, teachers, and the community, these centers are helping thousands of children overcome barriers to learning, reduce risks of early marriage and exploitation, and inspire hope for a new generation of educated girls.
Dadaab is not an ordinary refugee camp. Situated in the heart of semi-arid northern Kenya, it is the second world’s largest refugee camp hosting over 396,490 refugees and asylum seekers, the majority escaping from civil strife that has been ravaging Somalia since 1990. The camp embodies struggle defined by poor infrastructure and is easily overwhelmed by torrential rains frequently causing floods and waterlogging due to inadequate drainage systems. When it rains, the dirt roads become impassable making movements within the villages dotted with temporary shelters made mainly from tarpaulin and other local materials a nightmare.
Despite these challenges, the camp is witnessing a remarkable educational transformation. Fifteen-year-old Ifrah Ahmed Garad represents this change. Unlike her mother Falhado, who arrived in Dadaab over 20 years ago with no education, Ifrah dreams of becoming a doctor.
We find Ifrah, clad in a flowing dress and matching hijab neatly wrapped around her head at Badbado Accelerated Education Center in Dagahaley participating in a significant milestone for her younger brother - 10-year-old Mohamed Ahmed Garad. Mohamed is enrolling in the catch-up classes, having first attended Duksi (religious education). This whole experience is an emotional one, a stark reminder of how Ifrah’s education journey started five years ago.
Education levels in Dadaab face significant challenges, resulting in generally low attainment compared to national and global averages. Many children have limited or no education as the few schools that exist are often overcrowded and under-resourced, with insufficient classrooms, teachers, and learning materials.
“When I joined the Education Center I was excited to study, read books, and complete the assignments,” Ifrah
This makes girls vulnerable to gender-based violence, abuse, and exploitation due to a lack of income-generating activities, and a lack of information on access to alternative education pathways such as technical institutions for skills development. Teenage mothers who may have no one to leave their young children behind with as they seek either education or livelihood opportunities are even at a greater risk making them resort to harmful coping mechanisms such as engaging in transactional sex and early marriage for survival.
But Ifrah is reversing this narrative. For her, the future can only be bright after her enrollment at Badhbado Accelerated Education Center in 2019 at the age of 10, after focusing on Duksi studies in her younger years. Her eagerness to learn was evident from her first day at school. “I was excited to study, read books, and complete the assignments,” she recalls, exuding confidence, her attire reflecting a sense of self-dignity and cultural pride. The school’s supportive approach, which included providing books and snacks, made learning fun.
Ifrah Ahmed Garad at Badbado Accelerated Education Center, Dadaab, Garissa County, Kenya. Samfelix Randa
Save the Children’s Accelerated Education Centers are a lifeline for many over-age, out-of-school girls who might otherwise miss out on education. The centers focus on creating a conducive learning environment tailored to the needs of girls. “We actively engage with the community to raise awareness about the importance of girls' education. At school, we strive to create a supportive atmosphere with sufficient toilets and water facilities. We also provide dignity kits for the girls,” explains Bashir Ahmed, the headteacher at Badbado Accelerated Education Center.
The support from teachers also played a pivotal role in Ifrah’s education. “They were always willing to help, even discussing personal challenges when I faced difficulties,” she adds. This nurturing environment allowed her to thrive academically, and she completed her catch-up studies at Badbado in 2021 before transitioning to Central School in 2022. A notable achievement given the camp's gender education disparity, where girls represent only 44% of students compared to boys' 56%, primarily due to socio-cultural barriers.
“We also involve religious leaders in discussions with parents about issues like early marriage and offer counseling sessions to ensure girls remain in school,” adds Bashir. This community engagement is essential in addressing the barriers that often prevent girls from continuing their education.
Ifrah’s story illustrates the equalizer role that catch-up education plays in Dadaab. With the support of the community and organizations like Save the Children girls arerising and inspiring hope for future generations. Education is not just a pathway for individual growth but a means of breaking cycles of poverty, and inequality and empowering girls to achieve their dreams.
Since 2023, with funding from ECHO through the consortium led by Save the Children, Norwegian Refugee Council, and local partners 12,908 children (6,650 boys and 6,258 girls) - including 311 children with disabilities - are receiving quality education. They gain literacy, numeracy, and life skills. The Non-Formal Education Program also benefits from its partnership with the Ministry of Education and UNHCR.
By Samfelix Randa
.jpg-ch11029326.jpg/73naue0e10i1hara1h200cs4x3dvtmo1.jpg?g=0.5x0.33&w=392&h=261&format=webp&itok=pKI98qJ2 "Statement Card")