IIRR contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) aimed at prioritizing education for all and working with local governments and communities to increase opportunities for out-of-school children in pastoralist areas to access quality education. In partnership with education authorities, we help design the appropriate learning models that are compatible with the pastoralist and nomadic cultures and lifestyles of our communities.—with a special focus on empowering girls and increasing their enrollment and retention rates.
To be able to focus on education, IIRR meets the additional unique needs of marginalized communities such as:
Pastoralist Education Program
In the remote arid and semi-arid regions of eastern Africa, where pastoralism is the backbone of the economy, IIRR’s education program is transforming communities whose nomadic lifestyles have deprived their children, especially girls, to the basic right of a modern education. What makes IIRR’s Pastoral Education Program (PEP) unique and transformative is its integrated and holistic approach. To be able to focus in school, children must have their basic needs guaranteed. These needs are simple:
- Clean water for drinking and sanitation.
- Schools inside cattle camps, shepherd classes in the morning and evening (Flexible time for kids to learn herd makes it attractive for parents support)
- Girls hostels to provide safe learning environment
- Economic support to build confidence, ownership and continuity
- A reading light to be able to do their homework at night (especially for girls who do household chores during the day, and only have time to read at night)
- Advocacy for protection of girls against gender based violence and bullying in schools and communities by forming solidarity groups like mothers action groups
IIRR and partners focus their efforts on ensuring access to education and improving its quality. Education is a right, not a privilege.