by Catherine Ndungu
“Don’t forget your book,” cries Halimo’s mother. A young girl bounds in and retrieves her book before setting off for school. “I want to show our teacher. I’m a good student so I never forget my book.” Twelve year old Halimo Bashir Omar shows us her 30 minute journey by foot to the recently established Adeso mobile school. It is located near the pastoralist settlement of Jiingada, Sanaag region.
Halimo lives with her parents and is child number seven out of nine siblings. Her life is very much set in the pastoral routine. “I still have to help Mum in the household chores but my brothers look after the livestock.” Her family has five camel and a few shoats, diminished in number due to recurrent droughts.
“I’ve been to school before in a nearby town but only for a short period,” she said. Halimo’s parents could not afford to keep her in school as they could not pay for her and a brother studying in Erigavo. Another reason was their migration patterns prevented them from staying in one place. Halimo used to stay with her aunt so she could attend formal schooling.
“When Dad heard about a school settling near us he said I have to go there as soon as possible,” says Halimo. “It suits us because when we have to move to get access to the rains and fodder for our livestock, the school will move with us.”
“So far, I’m enjoying learning Maths. It’s nice to be able to go to school but also to help out in the house. When I was with my aunt I always used to worry that my Mum was doing too much. I also get to see my family.”
“I really want the mobile school to continue so that I can get to a higher level and my younger siblings have a chance to study. I’m already showing them what I’ve learnt in school and they are always interested when I explain my lessons to them,” she explains. Halimo’s parents are also happy with the school and would like to see the initiative carry on. “Our children will not lose the pastoral lifestyle but will also have the chance to get the education we had no access to,” says Halimo’s mother.