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Articles by Somali Women
Below are excerpts from articles written by former female students pursuing the journalism course in Somalia. Click here to go to African Star for a full list of articles.
Through the valley of death, caught in the conflict in Somalia: a personal tragedy
By Yasin Mohamed
"Shamis Aadan Cabdi is a textbook case of the human toll on the conflict in Somalia during the struggle against the Siad Barre's regime. Born in 1963 in Hargeisa Shamis completed her secondary school at the age of 18. Her plans to go to the university were thwarted when she was forced to marry her father's best friend. He worked in Hargeisa as a teacher but after he married Shamis he resigned his job and became a businessman with the help of his brother who was in Saudi Arabia.
Within a few years they were rich. Her husband built ten three-story houses. He also deposited large sums of money in the bank.
But in May 1988 it all seemed to come to an end. Hargeisa was the scene of heavy fighting. Thousands of people all ages fled the city. Shamis and her four children were also forced to flee to the bush in north east Hargeisa."
By Zuhur Yassin Ibrahim
"All children deserve to smile all day, every day. No matter where the child lives or whose child he is.
Children are to be loved and cared for; they are not to be abused and exposed to violence. They are to be in good hands and free from any harm; they are not to be used as child soldiers in conflicts or exploited. They are to be in schools getting education and receiving good health facilities; they are not to be on the streets shinning shoes and begging.
You see pictures of children sad, crying, starving and ignored. We can make a difference. We can put a smile on every child's face. We have the technology, the brains to work things out, and the health to help around. Then WHY are so many still suffering? I wonder.
The situation is known but most of the time is ignored and constantly overlooked. Some things get started but after some time are forgotten. Discussions and BIG conferences are held in the name of children but most of the time they end up on paper. The conditions in which the children of the world are in are continuously talked about but unfortunately most of the time they remain just talks and no Action."
Radio is greatest source of information in Somalia
By Hana Ismail Muse"I believe that the media should give priority to political issues simply because of the fact that Somaliland is in political turmoil. We are at the brink of war and this is a nation that comes from a long history of political upheaval and the Somaliland media has to understand that the existence and development of its media is imperative in interpreting freedom of expression and democracy, so that its media can play a pivotal role in protecting fundamental human rights."
