Educare le donne per il futuro della Somalia

Helpless Somalis Eye Education for Survival

Thursday, 14 October 2010 09:26

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Abdullahi Jamaa

Many Somali refugees see education as their only way of survival. (Google)

NAIROBI – Like thousands of her fellow Somalis, Kauthar Asad is leading a miserable life in refugee camps in neighbouring Kenya. But the young girl has a boundless dream; pursuing education to draw a bright future for her war-ravaged nation.

“Getting education is a priority in my life,” Asad told OnIslam.net on Thursday, October 14.

“It is not just for me but also for the progress of my family, my people and my country.”

Born to refugee parents in Kenya, Asad grew up in hard-scrabbling living conditions in the camps, where access to basic needs is almost a nightmare.

Her miserable life, however, did not stand a bloc to her dream of getting education.

“When I grow up I will be a doctor, I want to help my people back home in Somalia.

“I know it is not as easy to get the kind of education I need in a refugee camp like this,” said a determined Asad.

“But I believe where there is a will there is always a way out.”

A six-grader at Friends Primary School, Asad is living an almost nightmare in pursuing her education.

There are neither adequate books, proper latrines nor enough teachers to help Asad, and her likes, to pursue their education.

“I remind myself always and always that I have to be an extraordinary girl to reach my target,” said Asad.

“The situation is very challenging.”

Somalia has fallen into abyss over deadly clashes between government troops and rebel groups fighting to topple the government of President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

About 200,000 civilians are believed to have fled the continuing violence in Mogadishu thus far this year.

The violence has forced hundreds of thousands of helpless Somalis to flee their homes.

Survival

Living on the margin the refugee camps, Asad sees education as the only way of survival for helpless Somalis.

“Things here are very difficult, you have to think about how to survive,” says Asad.

“But then I believe schooling is the key to achieve what I want to be in life.”

Despite their difficult life, Asad’s family is also determined to help their daughter get the highest level of education.

“My daughter has a big dream,” says her mother Sahara Abdillahi.

“She is a teenager but she has taken care of her education.

“I am thrilled,” says the Somali mother. “I have nine children all born in this camp and I have all sent them to school expect two young ones.”

Somalia is one of four countries, where more than 70 percent of the population is illiterate.

According to UN estimates, only one in every four Somali girls of primary school-age is enrolled in school – one of the lowest rates worldwide.

Determined to have her dream fulfilled, Asad now leads a group of nearly 20 girl guides in her primary school to empower young girls to get education.

“When I started going to school, I had to go against a culture that did not promote girls’ education, where poverty was a barrier,” she says.

“Now we are going round the camps to put across a message that girls should be taken to schools.

“We need to educate girls if we want a bright future for Somalia.”

via onislam.net