30%
average school
enrolment in Horn
of Africa
harnessing
technology
to make literacy
accessible t0 all
supporting over
410,000
people and
counting to achieve
functional literacy
We are a non-profit organisation dedicated to transforming lives in the Horn of Africa through the promotion of literacy and education.
We believe in a world where everyone, no matter their location or circumstances, has the opportunity to learn.
Daariz is a free language learning app that helps in-school and out-of-school children and adults to achieve functional literacy in their mother tongue, Somali, and English.
Reducing the time it takes to become functionally literate in one’s mother tongue from 450 hours to just 50 hours, Daariz is supporting tens of thousands of people to unlock their potential.
We are facing a literacy crisis with 771 million young adults and people worldwide unable to read or write. Girls and women face the greatest barriers, making up two-thirds of this number. The Horn of Africa, in particular, has one of the lowest global literacy rates. More than 70% of late primary school students struggle to read a simple story in their mother tongue.
Literacy is a cornerstone for social, economic and gender equality. Join us in our journey to make literacy a reality for all learners in the Horn of Africa and beyond.
Users reached with Daariz app
Of Daariz users are girls & women
time it takes to achieve functional literacy with Daariz
Virtual camels awarded for achievements
We know that education cannot continue during times of crisis. Our team acts swiftly and flexibly during major disasters, providing relief to the communities we serve. Timely actions during the major droughts and the Waheen Market fire of 2022 helped businesses, and schools, get back on their feet.
Our public policy advocacy aims to address the root causes of poverty and social injustice. We advocate for reform of the deeply regressive tax systems that disproportionately burden the poorest households and exacerbate income inequality.
In Somaliland, we have commissioned comprehensive research on global best practices on land and property taxation. This initiative aims to provide valuable insights to the Hargeisa City Council, guiding their efforts towards meaningful structural tax reform. We have produced a detailed report and a policy brief and an opinion piece to inform the process.
The technology means that learning is taken out of school to where many Somalilanders live and work.
Read moreIn Somaliland, a free phone app is bringing literacy to all corners of the country.
Read moreOur weekly collection of the happiest stories in the world. This week, a new app teaching people literacy skills in the Horn of Africa.
Read more