On December 3rd 2005 Mr. Mohamed Ismail, the Executive Director of Kodmo Education Fund (KEF), paid a visit to Kodmo School. Kodmo School is the 1st project undertaken by KEF that was started in 1998 at the village of Xumbays, Somalia. The objective of the visit was to evaluate the success of the program, to encourage teachers and students, and to raise the awareness of the community regarding the importance of education for their children.

The following is the report sent by Mr. Mohamed to the Board:

Mr. Abdi Budul, Mr. Jeesto, and I left Bosaso early in the morning by Landcruser and reached the village late afternoon. Since the start of this program we have visited Kodmo School several times, and rest assured that what we saw this time was so encouraging that we are planning to start school at the next village. For the first time we saw parents who came to us and thanked to all who participated this project. The moral of the community was very high and there was an atmosphere of hope for the future of the community. You know it would not have been possible without your help and participation.

The school building consist of four classrooms and one office. There are four teachers. Students who started in April 1999 have successfully completed grade eight. Six students who started with Kodmo Education Fund in 1999 completed their intermediate education. You are aware that there will be no grade nine at the village for now. Unless we make some other arraignments for them they will be done with their education. The following are the names of the six students: 1.Halima Omar Abdi; 2. Abdullahi Yusuf Osman; 3. Bashir Mohamed Ibrahim; 4. Mohamed Omar Ismail; 5. Mustafa Mumin Mohamed; 6. Mohamed Siyad Mohamed.

Since last year 14 students transferred to nearby cities. One student, Abdi Mohamed Osman, who I met in Bosaso is in Grade 11, and mind that he is one of the students who started with Komdo School. He told me that when he transferred as a 5th grade student he was tested and placed at grade eight in Bosaso at that time. No TV and other distractions from school.

In conclusion, we saw nomadic children who as they said aspire to become; “Astronauts, Doctors, Pilots, President of Somalia, and The Secretary of United Nations.” What made possible for these children who rare camels, goats, sheep, and cattle to have that aspiration is the opportunity that Kodmo Education Fund has given to them. Let us double our efforts.