On Somalia’s wind‑swept coast, education once came with daily risks. Years of wear and tear, strong coastal winds and exposure to harsh weather left classrooms in Maraya Primary School severely damaged, putting learners and teachers at risk. For the school, rehabilitation came as a lifeline.
Maraya Primary School struggled with damaged classroom roofs, worn-out structures and constant disruptions due to wind and rain.
“During windy seasons, we feared that the roofs would fall,” recalls Headteacher Sahra. “Teachers couldn’t continue lessons when the wind was strong, and children were scared to sit inside.”
In fragile settings, education, protection and governance intersect. Without safe classrooms, children, especially girls, are more likely to drop out, and communities lose a critical space where rights are realised and futures are shaped.
A Community Takes Action
Through the EMPOWER! programme, supported by Irish Aid, Maraya’s community did more than receive a school upgrade; they made their need for safer learning conditions visible.
The School Committee raised concerns about the condition of the school and sought support. In response, the EMPOWER project supported the complete rehabilitation of the school classrooms and latrines, including roof replacement, structural strengthening and improved ventilation.
This reflects how locally identified priorities can lead to tangible improvements in essential services, particularly in fragile and climate‑affected contexts.
As School Committee Chairperson Abdirashid Hassan explains:
“We appealed for help. EMPOWER project responded and revived our school. Parents are now confident to send their children back because the classrooms are safe”.
Safe Schools, Stronger Futures
The transformation was immediate.
For Asha Muse, a Grade 6 student, the change meant more than new walls:
“Before, water dripped from the roof when it rained. Now we can learn without fear. The new rooms make us happy to come to school.”
Safe, inclusive classrooms are essential to achieving EMPOWER’s objective of ensuring education services are gender‑responsive, conflict‑sensitive and accessible to the most vulnerable children, particularly girls.
Across EMPOWER! countries in 2025, this approach helped ensure that nearly 91% of supported schools met minimum standards for safety, inclusion and gender responsiveness, reinforcing that quality learning environments are achievable even in fragile contexts.
A Lasting Impact
For Eyl District Education Officer Mohamed Haji Musa, the significance is clear:
“Education can only thrive where classrooms are safe. EMPOWER has given our children a gift that will last for years.”
In Maraya, a rehabilitated school is a symbol of what happens when communities are empowered to act, institutions respond, and children are given a safe place to learn.