The first school in El-adde town was started in 1993 by El-adde community in collaboration with the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA)
The school started with four classroomss of thatched houses & with 25 students
Initially, the NCA gave small allowances to the teachers and staff.
In 1998, the school attracted the attention og he diaspora community
School classrooms were increased to 8 classes with increase demand
Six new teachers were recruited to meet with the increasing number of students
The first grduates from the primary school took place in 2004/2005
In 2005, Gannaane ry dispatched for a fact-finding mission to El-adde from the department of international development of the Finnish foreign ministry
Two people departed for this mission & saw the first-hand need for the secondary school
The Diaspora Community organized themselves to help their home town in 2005 for the construction of a secondary school
First Call to Action was: fundraising (Yabooh) – sustained charity (Sadaqa Jaariya)
The Gedo District Committee (GDC) mobilized the town’s stakeholders like businessmen and farmers to participate in teleconferences
Local organization: ARD Key results
total Pledges of $55,000 was raised in the first teleconference fundraising
the actual cash collected from pledges was $42,000 within 3 months
the secondary school which was consisting of 7 rooms stablished
Duration: 21 March 2023 – 20 September 2023
Location: Gedo, Jubaland State, Somalia
🎯 Overall Outcome
Sustainable and resilient livelihoods for local communities, supported by restored and diversified vegetation cover.
✅ Key Outputs Achieved
Tree nursery renovated: 1
Environmental awareness campaigns conducted: 6
Participants reached: 145 (73 male, 72 female)
Seedlings distributed to target beneficiaries: 1,750
Male: 1,200 | Female: 550
Nursery equipped: tools & supplies (hoes, wheelbarrow, spades, plastic pots, water tank, etc.)
Sanitation improved: 1 pit latrine constructed
📚 Background & Objectives
Tackle desertification by planting durable tree species, raising environmental awareness, and promoting good governance.
Aim to improve life for 200,000 people suffering from drought, land degradation, and food insecurity.
Establishment of an environmental center in Gedo , producing ~2,000 new trees annually, distributed to public and private spaces.
🌍 Somalia’s Environmental Context
Severe degradation since 1991 due to deforestation, charcoal burning, illegal hunting, and smuggling.
Intensified by climate change: recurring droughts, floods, food insecurity, and loss of livelihoods.
📢 Awareness Campaign Highlights
Ran from March–August 2023 (2–3 times per month).
Key messages:
Need for laws to protect the environment.
Call for an Environmental Ministry to coordinate nationwide action.
Support for vulnerable groups (women, children, IDPs, low-income families).
Acknowledgement of the need to continue nurseries and tree planting beyond the pilot phase.
Urged Trocaire to continue supporting the project.
📝 Recommendations for Future Action
1. Broaden community mobilization and awareness on conservation.
2. Include environmental education in school curricula.
3. Enact and enforce laws on tree protection, overgrazing, hunting, and smuggling.
4. Support backward farming, modern irrigation, and water harvesting.
5. Establish an Environmental Cluster for advocacy.
6. Government to create research centers and promote biodegradable materials
