MOGADISHU —<\/b>\u00a0About 40,000 adolescent girls and young women who have not had formal education in Somalia will now acquire skills to bolster their livelihoods through a new US funding.<\/p>\n
This follows a $15 million contribution by the USAID to the UK supported Adolescent Girls Education in Somalia (AGES) programme.<\/p>\n
The funding adds to already running $17 .6 million UK aid to the programme which currently reaches 42,000 adolescent girls and young women.<\/p>\n
The AGES programme targets girls and women aged between 15 and 24 years who have not had formal education in Benadir region, HirShabelle, Jubbaland and South West States.
\nThe target groups will undergo an 11 months non formal education course to enquip them with\u00a0 skills for income generation.<\/p>\n
UK ambassador to Somalia Kate Foster said the additional funds will reach more marginalised girls and young women to build their resilience.<\/p>\n
“The UK-funded Adolescent Girls Education in Somalia programme has made significant\u00a0 contributions to the lives of tens of thousands of young Somali women. With this new USAID funding, we are expanding our approach to reach even more marginalised households and communities. It will build their resilience by providing young Somali women basic financial, literacy, numeracy and life skills.\u201d<\/p>\n
On his part, USAID Somalia Mission Director Patrick Diskin echoed ambassador Foster’s remarks noting the funds will contribute in empowering the target group and building their livelihood.<\/p>\n
“USAID is very excited to contribute to this successful UK-led initiative in order to provide more young Somali women with a foundational education they lack, yet so rightly deserve. These skills will provide women with increased livelihood and civic opportunities, which are critical for advancing Somalia’s economic and social development.”<\/p>\n
Sixty-five percent of young women aged 20\u201024 have not attended school at all or have only some primary education, compared to 53 percent of young men of the same age.<\/p>\n