“We Can Dream Again”: Abdifatah and Hawo’s Journey from Displacement to Digital Learning

Fourteen-year-old Abdifatah Noor lives with his family in an internally displaced persons (IDP) settlement in the Wadajir neighborhood, Baidoa City. Originally from Sakow in the Middle Jubba, his family once depended on farming and livestock for their livelihood. That life ended five years ago when prolonged conflict and severe drought forced them to flee.

“We lost our farmland and all our animals,” Abdifatah recalls. “They were our only source of income, and when they were gone, we had to leave everything behind,” he said with quiet despair, his words weighed down by loss.

Battling uncertainty in an internally displaced camp  

Today, the family lives in a temporary shelter made of plastic sheets and wooden poles. His mother runs a small petty trade, and they sometimes depend on humanitarian aid or the kindness of others to eat. Access to water is difficult and costly, and the nearest health facility is Bay Regional Hospital, far from the camp.

“In the camp, life is very hard,” Abdifatah explains. “Sometimes we are not sure where the next meal will come from. Before this project, I had given up on school because my family couldn’t afford it.”

Building confidence through digital language learning

Abdifatah engaged in digital learning on his tablet at Wadajir School in Baidoa in December 2025

Everything began to change when Abdifatah, an eighth-grade student, enrolled at Wadajir School with the support of SOS Children’s Villages and the Akelius Foundation. For the first time, he had access to tablets, internet connectivity, and structured digital lessons.

“Before, I had almost no knowledge of how to use tablets or online learning tools,” he says. “Now at an A2 level, I am learning English and Arabic using the Akelius app, and I feel more confident in class.”

With guidance from trained facilitators, his digital literacy and language skills have grown quickly. “Learning is more enjoyable now,” Abdifatah shares. “I can complete my assignments by myself, and I believe I can build a better future for my family.”

His dream is to become a teacher so he can help other children in similar situations.

“Digital learning has been widely embraced by students for its interactive and engaging nature. We see children more motivated, more confident, and eager to participate,” said Mohamed Haji, the education programme manager for SOS Children’s Villages in Somalia. 

Same Dreams, Different Classrooms

Across Baidoa, in Horseed neighborhood, 12‑year‑old Hawo Luul Osman is on a similar path of transformation. Her family fled the Diinsoor District in Bay Region due to insecurity and drought, settling in Horseed as internally displaced persons (IDPs). They now live in a rented, makeshift, iron-sheet shelter, where the walls leak when it rains and the cold creeps in at night, as they struggle to rebuild their lives.

“Before the Akelius project, I had no access to digital learning for English,” Hawo says. “We did not have good learning materials, and I didn’t know how to use a tablet at all, not even how to turn it on or change the volume.”

Hawo immerses herself in learning, using a tablet to follow the pronunciation of key words, at Dr. Abdalla Derow Primary and Secondary School in Baidoa in December 2025 

Her family once relied on unsafe shallow wells for water and had limited access to health services. Over time, support from different programs connected them to clean water and health services at the SOS Baidoa District Hospital. However, education and digital tools remained out of reach for the fourth-grade student until she joined the Akelius digital learning classes at Dr. Abdalla Derow Primary and Secondary School. Today, she is learning at A2 level.

“After I joined the Akelius program, everything changed,” Hawo explains. “Now I learn English and Arabic with the app, using videos, audio, and games. My reading, listening, and speaking skills have improved so much, and I feel more confident and engaged in class,” she said, swiping her finger across the tablet screen to bring up the next page.

With safe learning spaces and regular access to tablets, she now participates fully in structured digital lessons.

“I feel more confident and motivated,” she says. “My marks in school are better, and I believe education can give me a better future and help my family.”

Hawo dreams of gaining strong digital and life skills and becoming a role model for other girls in her community.

Both children carry a message of deep gratitude

“I want to thank SOS Children’s Villages and the Akelius Foundation,” Abdifatah says. “You gave me an opportunity that I never thought I would have in an IDP camp.”

Hawo echoes his words: “Your support has made our minds more active and confident. You restored our hope. I promise to work hard and use what I learn to help others.”

The Akelius Digital Learning Project now reaches 2,347 children in Mogadishu and Baidoa, serving both displaced and host communities, representing the only initiative of its kind in the country.

Abdifatah and Hawo have found hope through access to education and digital learning tools, such as tablets and online classes. These resources are more than mere learning tools; they are gateways to opportunity, helping them nurture their dreams and aspirations. By embracing these tools, they are not only advancing academically but also developing the digital skills they need to navigate everyday life, preparing them to become their strongest selves.