Meet Ahmed*, a 13-year-old boy from a small village in Lahj, Yemen. Ahmed’s life was upended when his local school fell under the control of opposing warring factions in Yemen’s ongoing civil conflict. Like many other children in his village, he was kept home, distanced from education for a full year. "I used to walk for 30 minutes to reach my school. When the war started...I could not go to school because it was not safe," Ahmed recounts.
The USAID Gateway to Education Activity, implemented by Save the Children in partnership with Creative Associates, gave Ahmed and his friends a second chance at an education. The project constructed two classrooms in the heart of the village and restored the children's access to regular education. The new classrooms brought learning back to the village and fostered a vibrant community for the children. Ahmed and his friends now regularly participate in extracurricular activities to build their interpersonal skills which are a critical part of their recovery from the horrors of war that they have witnessed.
Ahmed’s love for learning is palpable. He speaks fondly of the new classrooms, the friends he is making, and the sense of safety he now feels while in school. His ambitions have also been rekindled. He proudly says, "when I grow up, I want to become a doctor and open a clinic in our village to treat people, especially children."
Supporting voices from the community echo Ahmed’s sentiments. Yahia*, a teacher in the village, praises the project for effectively addressing the community's safety concerns and aiding in educational continuity for children in the village. Abdullah, a member of the Community Educational Committee, adds that the new classrooms allow students to continue their formal education and add value to the teaching process in the village.
USAID works to ensure equitable access to quality education for children like Ahmed and works closely with local communities and the Ministry of Education in Yemen to provide a sense of hope for vulnerable children and their families.
*Names have been changed to protect identities.
Photo credit: Amer Mohammad, Save the Children.
Photo credit: Amer Mohammad, Save the Children.
