Somaliland programme




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Sectors of intervention Education

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Many children in Somaliland are traumatised and have mental handicaps as a result of the civil war that started in 1992.
The mentally sick and traumatised are among the weakest and most exposed people in society. Since 1999, IAS has been working with this target group and results are beginning to appear!



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Education
In 2001, an institution for mentally handicapped children was established in Somaliland. It was the first of its kind and the concept was unknown in this nation. So far, the Somalis had been treating this category of children with disgust. Mentally handicapped children were shackled in their homes or turned away to live on the streets. Children with relatively small handicaps or mental disorders were treated like animals.

The project for mentally handicapped children has seen incredible results since the start and the Somali population is now realising that it is possible to help these children. Today, 190 children are enrolled in the school. The institution has become integrated in society and is recognised equal to other schools. The school is delivering know-how and expertise on special education and mental disorders to all of Somaliland’s school system. The Ministry of Education is a co-operation partner in the process of integrating special education into all the national schools.




Activities
- Examination and counselling centre.
- Physiotherapy and psychotherapy.
- Visitation and home schooling.
- Special education.
- Training in protected workshops.
- Training centre for primary and lower secondary school teachers.
- Resource centre and production workshop.
- Distribution of special education materials to schools.
- Awareness seminars around the country.


Facts
- The population of Somaliland is approx. 2,5 million.
- Islam is the religion.

// Torben Madsen
IAS Denmark Director