Purposeful learning
Foundational education from Kindergarten through Grade 4, designed for steady progress.
Hargele, Ethiopia
A place to learn, belong and grow.
Afder International Boarding School provides an integrated education for orphaned and vulnerable children in Afder Zone, with students selected from Afder and parts of Shabelle Zone.
Formal learning, Islamic education and daily care under one roof.
Established 2024
School inauguration
A school created to expand opportunity for children in Afder Zone.
Learning together
Formal and Islamic education for a growing school community.
Community
Rooted in Hargele and serving children across the wider region.
A place to belong
A dedicated campus for students to learn and grow.
A whole-child approach
Education is strongest when every child is cared for.
Our boarding environment brings together classroom learning, faith, accommodation, nutrition, personal care and student welfare.
Faith and character
Quran memorization and Islamic studies sit alongside formal learning in daily school life.
A nurturing home
Boarding, nutrition, personal care and welfare support help students feel safe and ready to learn.
Our beginnings
Built with a community behind it.
Shadow of Charity established Afder International Boarding School to expand access to quality education for orphaned and vulnerable children in Afder Zone.
The school was made possible through SOC’s commitment, individual donors, local businesses and regional-government support.
Learning is integrated with accommodation, nutrition, personal care and student-welfare support.
Our journey
From an idea of care to a school in Hargele.
Construction begins
Work begins on a school created to serve children across Afder Zone.
The campus is completed
A dedicated boarding and learning environment is ready to welcome students.
School opens
Afder International Boarding School begins operations under SOC’s management.
Learning expands
The school grows from its initial Kindergarten–Grade 3 offering to include Grade 4.
School at a glance
A growing learning community.
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students
104 girls · 247 boys
256 orphaned · 95 from the host community
256 orphaned · 95 from the host community
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staff members
teachers and support staff
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classrooms
for focused learning
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languages
Somali · English · Arabic · Amharic
How we learn
A well-rounded foundation for every learner.
Formal and Islamic programmes sit together, with Somali, English, Arabic and Amharic included across the school’s learning experience.
Formal education
Learning begins in Kindergarten and currently extends through Grade 4.
- Kindergarten–Grade 4
- Progressive classroom learning
Islamic education
Islamic learning strengthens faith and character alongside a formal curriculum.
- Quran memorization (Tahfeed)
- Islamic studies (Tarbiyah)
Multilingual learning
Students encounter the languages used across the school’s formal and Islamic programmes.
- Somali and English
- Arabic and Amharic
Life at Afder
A school day is about more than the classroom.
The boarding model brings essential support into the rhythm of school life, helping each learner participate with dignity and confidence.
Explore the school profileBoarding accommodation
A residential setting that forms part of the school’s integrated learning environment.
Nutrition
Nutrition is included as part of the school’s integrated support for students.
Personal care and welfare
Personal care and student welfare support are included alongside the education programme.
Find our community
Rooted in Hargele, connected to the wider region.
Afder International Boarding School is located in Hargele, Afder Zone, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia — approximately 782 km from Addis Ababa and 765 km from Jigjiga. Students are selected from all woredas of Afder Zone and parts of Shabelle Zone.