Our Work in Somaliland

In Somaliland, The Library Project provides free Literacy Programs and Book Donations to rural elementary and high schools. These programs support children and youth living in rural communities by expanding access to books, strengthening reading opportunities, and helping students build the literacy skills they need to continue learning.

Our Book Donations support both school libraries and classroom libraries, helping schools provide students with age-appropriate reading materials in accessible learning spaces. These donations help create more opportunities for students to read independently, build confidence, and develop stronger reading habits.

The Library Project also provides Capacity Building for local literacy nonprofit organizations in Somaliland. This support is free of charge and may include one-on-one mentoring, planning tools, fundraising guidance, program development support, and access to practical resources. By strengthening local organizations, we help build long-term, community-led literacy impact.

Literacy in Somaliland

Somaliland faces significant challenges in expanding access to education and strengthening literacy. UNICEF reports that 24 percent of school-age children in Somaliland, ages 6 to 18, are out of school. Education Cannot Wait has also reported that the literacy rate among school children aged 6 to 13 is 42 percent, while adult literacy is estimated at 31 percent.

Children in rural communities often face additional barriers to education, including poverty, long distances to school, limited learning materials, and the cost of schooling for families. UNICEF has noted that many children in rural Somaliland are unable to attend school, and that hundreds of thousands of children remain out of school across Somaliland.

Reading is the foundation for learning across all subjects. When students struggle to read, they are more likely to fall behind, lose confidence, and face greater barriers to continuing their education. In Somaliland, access to books, literacy programs, and locally led education support is especially important for children and youth in rural communities.

The Library Project’s work in Somaliland responds to this need by supporting rural schools with free Literacy Programs and Book Donations, while also strengthening local literacy nonprofit organizations through Capacity Building. Together, these efforts help create more reading opportunities for students and support long-term, community-led literacy impact.