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Sewing Class Completes First Project
Our level 1 sewing class in Djibouti completed one of their first projects of making bread bags. These bags are made from recycled flour sacks and local fabric. The skills they learn in making the bags allows them to make more and sell them in local markets. We have the women learn how to make bread bags because bread is a staple for every family in Djibouti and there doesn’t exist a product like this in the local markets.
First Race for 2018-2019 GirlsRun2 Team
Our 2018-2019 running season has begun! If you aren’t familiar with our Girls Run 2 program, then check out the website for more info.
One of the first races of the year was a race through the capital city of Djibouti.
One of our runner’s dad is a police officer and when she saw him at the race she was so excited!
We are so thankful for all your donations to the team. We rely on generous finaical gifts and gifts in kind like shoes, clothes, vitamins, and more to help us supply each girl on the team with uniforms, practice outfits, proper running shoes, nutritious food, and money for medical and school fees. You can donate to Girls Run 2 here.
Fall 2018 Project House
This year our Project House took on a new project—moving buildings! After months of searching we finally found a place to house our expanding classes, and hopefully will give us room to grow!
The women held an open house for the community to come by and shop their goods, like jewelry, bags, coffee, and more. We are so proud of these ladies and the skills they are learning to better their families and lives.
Fall 2017 Project House Classes Have Started!
Our project house in Djibouti has started their fall training classes. The project house is a place where young women, chosen and vetted by our local staff, come and learn valuable skills such as sewing and baking. Currently the girls are working on sewing camel bags. These bags are made from left over fabric donated to LIFE. The insides are lined with flour bags, which makes them easy to wipe clean. On the outside the girls trace and cut out shapes like camels and the continent of Africa. These bags are then sold at local bazaars.
The Fall 2017 sewing class!
One of the bags the girls are learning to make
One of the summer partcipants learning how to sew
US State Department Helps Fund Sewing Project
Financed by the American State Department through the Julia Taft Fund, Local Initiatives for Education (L.I.F.E.) was able to provide a place for 60 students from different parts of the refugee camp to come and learn how to sew. The students, in groups of 20, work three hours a day for three days a week. The students begin with little or no experience in sewing, and are taught by former students of the sewing project. Skills taught include basic cutting, advanced clothes creating, and maintenance of the machines. In February of 2016, 43 students graduated from the sewing center. These graduates are now able to use their skills to provide an income for their family.
UNHCR Newsletter Featuring Local Initiatives for Education (LIFE)
For a detail looked at L.I.F.E.’s work inside one of the refugee camps in Djibouti, check out the link below to the UNHCR Newsletter. We have been working with a group of women to teach them various sewing projects so they can provide income for their families.
UNHCR Newsletter - Click to Read
Somaliland Development: Food For Work
Small villages often lack communication with larger centers and cannot evacuate casualties or get in aid.
Small villages often lack communication with larger centers and cannot evacuate casualties or get in aid. Food and other supplies are expensive because of transport costs.
This village is benefiting from a Food for Work program which is building a road to the nearest town as well as providing basic food and clothes distribution.
In the last 10 years in this area, 16 women have lost their lives in childbirth because of the inability to evacuate them to a medical facility.
An elderly lady, Amran, is taking care of her five grandchildren, who were orphaned when their parents died of hunger. She has no source of income, but has the burden of caring for the children, the youngest being nine months old. When the LIFE team gave her 10 packets of rice-soy food, she was overwhelmed with joy and cried. The children gathered and hugged their grandmother and the packs of food.
the route
the road under construction
A School in AShekh Awareh built when a road connected the village to a small town 45km away; Immunization vehicles can now get through and camels are no longer the only transport.
Personal And Social Education
Personal and Social Education, including sexual awareness, morality, and ethics has been a recognized subject in both British and American education for many years.
Personal and Social Education, including sexual awareness, morality, and ethics has been a recognized subject in both British and American education for many years. But it has recently been introduced into schools in the Horn of Africa by Local Initiatives for Education (LIFE) staff who adapted the Crossroads syllabus for local use. Having tested the course themselves as guest teachers over several years, our staff trained local teachers to deliver the revised course to their students.
The first cohort of locally-trained teachers receive certificates on completion of their training.
Skills Training: Djibouti
Training is given to many groups, some in refugee camps, to enable them to earn their own income and support families.
Training is given to many groups, some in refugee camps, to enable them to earn their own income and support families. Skills include baking, sewing, making ornaments, making aloe vera soaps and making cosmetics. Trainees are taught marketing skills and sales opportunities are created to help them get started.
GirlsRun2 Project
GirlsRun2 is a girls running club organized to help girls from very poor homes to have an opportunity to continue their education.
GirlsRun2 is a girls running club organized to help girls from very poor homes to have an opportunity to continue their education.
A project of Local Initiatives for Education (LIFE), the GirlsRun2 program's main goal is to keep the girls in school as long as possible. Education through sports encourages these young girls to dream of bright, meaningful futures.
Challenges include nutrition, traditional practices and school fees.
This work featured in a running magazine in 2008 and in a film documentary in 2013.
Fatuma is 15 years old and runs with GirlsRun2. Her father is disabled and the family has no income. They live in challenging conditions with little hope for a better future. The GirlsRun2 program has enabled Fatuma to stay in school and receive food aid and other assistance for her family.
Halimo is 14 years old and had to leave school to watch the family's goat herd. After being harassed by local boys, her mother agreed to re-enroll her in school and let her run with GirlsRun2. Halimo is so happy to be back in school and loves to run!
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