Lighting the Path: Celebrating Education with Concern

“I first came here as a student,” says Teacher Ubah Mohamed Ali, who now teaches Somali language to fifth graders. “Concern was already helping then, providing resources like chairs and books. After I graduated, they offered me teacher training.”

Today, Ubah stands proudly in the same classrooms where she once studied. “Education takes you places,” she explains, recalling how, in her childhood, attending school was a rarity. For her, being an educator means giving back: “I want my students to succeed and hopefully become teachers and help their community one day.”
 

Ahmed Ali Gedi has witnessed the school’s transformation since 1993—first as a teacher and later as a parent his children have attended and graduated from the same school.

He remembers the, most challenging times, especially during the war in 1991, when teachers were paid only with food. “If Concern hadn’t stepped in, our children might have turned to crime. Instead, many finished university and are now employed,” he says.

Today, with 2,500 students enrolled, Gedi dreams of expanded classrooms, better lighting, and a dedicated teachers’ lab. “Education is what separates ignorance from wisdom,” he reflects, confident that the school’s growth will continue to shape a brighter future.

Eighteen-year-old Yahya Dahir Ali, in eleventh grade, also appreciates the power of English. “Everywhere you go in the world, it’s spoken,” he remarks. Yahya’s ambition is to become the Minister of Education. He credits the school’s dedicated teachers and resources with boosting his confidence: “If I learn today, I can help my family and my country tomorrow.”

Another eleventh grader, Abdul Rahman Hussain Mohammed, has set his sights on becoming a surgeon. Biology is his favourite subject, and he also loves the camaraderie of playing football. “Having access to education gives me a purpose,” he says. “It’s my way out of poverty. I’m grateful to Concern for supporting our school.”

Seventeen-year-old Ayan Abdi Rage is in seventh grade and loves English language classes. “It’s spoken everywhere, and I can use it to apply for jobs,” she says. 

Despite the challenges many girls face in accessing education, Ayan believes the knowledge she gains will enable her to stand on her own feet and support her family. 

She dreams of becoming a pilot and recognises that other girls who get the chance to have access to education would have more opportunities: “A girl might even be the future president. Anything is possible!”

Since 1993, Concern Worldwide has been a cornerstone of education in Somalia, building schools like Ali Hussein from scratch and providing essential support such as furniture, teaching-learning materials, hygiene kits, and CEC teacher training. In more recent times, through grants from Irish Aid, the Conrad Foundation, and implemented programs like Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and the Global Education Partnership (GPE).  Concern has expanded its impact beyond classrooms.

By 2018, the government took over much of the school’s management, yet Concern’s support continues, benefiting numerous students across 14 schools in Mogadishu, including three emergency schools and 11 public schools.

From Ubah’s strength to Ahmed’s faith to Ayan, Yahya, and Abdul’s dreams, Concern’s impact is felt across the community. Their stories show how education changes lives—opening doors, fueling ambition, and making dreams possible.

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