Beledweyne is the administrative centre of Hiran region of Somalia with its strategic position in the Horn of Africa
has suffered much during the past century or more. By 1897 it had been partitioned between Britain, France and Italy, as
well as losing territory to Kenya and Ethiopia. In 1960 the British and Italian areas became
independent and were reunited with Mogadishu becoming the new country's capital. The French region
later became independent as the separate country of Djibouti.
Nine years after independence a military regime under General Mohammed S. Barre was established following a coup. In its turn this military government was overthrown by a popular uprising in 1991. This uprising had no agreed agenda or leadership and widespread civil war ensued. The chaos and starvation which resulted brought the country to world attention and U.N. santioned a multinational force for the area. This force was later enlarged to oversee the delivery of food supplies in the famine zone.
In 1995 the UN troops were withdrawn leaving the civil war to rage unchecked.
The country is generally peaceful now with genuine desire for political settlement and long-term stability.
WHAT IS HIRAN COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROJECT (HiCEP)?
Hiran Community Education Project was known as Beledweyne Library Project until September 2003,
when charitable status was granted. The two names tells us something of what happened so far
and what we hope will develop in the future.
The story so for:-
The First ever Public Library in Hiran was opened in 1999 as a result of the efforts of a Support
Group led by Daud H Ali, which had been established in Birmingham, UK in 1998.
The books in the Library were donated by Birmingham schools. A first consignment was
sent in November 1998. More went in February 2000. On each occasion Save the Children Fund
provided vital logistical support.
The building went up in the autumn of 2000.(Before that the Library had been housed in loaned premises.)
Costs of the building work and materials were £6000. This money had been raised by the UK based Support Group.
Furniture and equipment was paid for by the Department for international Development.
Following application made with the help of local MP, Steve McCabe, they agreed to give money for
this purpose once the new builing existed.
How the Library functions. It is open every day of the week, with shorter opening
on Fridays. It is staffed a manager (unpaid) and two assistant librarians.
Ongoing expenses are met from funds raised by the Support Group.
Continuing development of the Library will include adding to the stock of books.
Looking to the future:-
The aims of HiCEP are to further the education of the people of the Hiran Region by assisting
in the provision of libraries and schools and by providing scholarships to meet educational costs of
people living there.
The next step in seeking to achieve these aims is to establish a primary
school in Beledweyne in which English will be the medium of instruction.
Money matters.
The £6000 which it cost to fund the construction of the Library came in partly in the forms
gifts from individual donors and also through holding various fund raising events.
Current fund raising efforts are aimed towards gathering the estimated £15000 which cost to erect
the building needed to house the English language school.
It costs £100 per month to keep the Library funtioning. This pays the wages of two librarians and night watchman, providing
livelihoods for three households, and meets electricty costs. A little goes a long way in Africa!
All Money raised or donated goes directly to support the work in Somalia. All work
in the U.K. is carried out by unpaid volunteers.
How YOU can help
We are looking for one hundred very special people who will commit themselves to giving
regularly each month. If one hundred individuals each pledge to give just £1 they will provide the finance needed to keep the only
Public Library in Hiran Region of Somalia functioning. If you are willing to become
the First One Hundred regular donors please complete the form overleaf and return it to
the address on the back of this leaflet.
Biographies
Daud was born near Beledweyne in the mid 1940s and went to school in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He left Somalia in 1964 to study in Beirut, Lebanon. Three years later he came to the United Kingdom to study, qualifying as a teacher in 1972. Daud taught in both primary and secondary schools in the north of England. Following the initial teacher training Daud undertook four university courses in three English universities during the 1970s and 1980s. He gained a BA in Education followed by two masters degrees and an additional postgraduate degree equivalent qualification. Two of these qualifications were in education and the other two psychology. Daud qualified as an educational psychologist in 1988 and was appointed as an educational psychologist in a large local education authority in central England.
Having spent 32 years in education, either as a teacher or an educational psychologist, Daud has both the vision and conviction, as well as the necessary qualification, to start and run the proposed English primary school in Beledweyne, Somalia.
The Hiran Public Library, Belet-Weyn, Somalia
The Hiran Public Library, Belet-Weyn, Somalia
The Hiran Public Library, Belet-Weyn, Somalia
For more information contact:
Mr. Daud H. Ali (Chairman)
Mr. Ian Hendry (Treasurer)