The most beautiful place I have ever seen was western savannah in Somalia.
It was 1978. I had a holiday from my elementary school and we went to see to our uncle who lived in countryside. I was with my older brothers. It was Gu one of the raining season in Somalia. Near my uncle’s house there was little bit of bush. But rest of the area was wide open savannah, the grass was tall and green. There was pleanty of milk from the animals to drink and water lay every where. It was the most pleasant time I have ever remembered.
After I stayed a week, I asked my uncle if I could visited the goats and sheeps with him. It was about 4pm when we walked about one kilometer from home. We came to plain and open grazing area. I saw many different animals which I assumed it were domestic animal. But to my surprise, there were wild animals like Gazelles. Deer’s, antelopes, and.When we got close to them none of the animals were running. They were simply gave a away for us although I was afraid. I asked my uncle why these animal did not run, and he said because no one harmed or hunted them except lions and hyena.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Hard work is part of my tradition
07/16/07
Hard work is part of my tradition
I was born and raised in farmland in southern Somalia. The method of farming there is still primitive, and not only hard work, but it require waking up 6am and walking about three kilometers away from the village. I started working young, as I was six years old. Our tradition is formed by the seasons of rain, which takes place twice a year. These times we put the seeds into the ground. We grew sorghum, corn (maize), sesame. Near towns, we raise vegetables and fruits. After three months we began harvesting again. When the hard work is over we celebrate about a week. We the people in the southern part Somalia we are very settled, our lives depend on farming; we are individualist and hard working and the rest of Somalia are nomads who are continuously moving from place to place. Since my culture is based upon hard work. I am very proud of my culture and I love it.
WhenI came to the US I have never thought I would be out of work this long.But the life is cruel same times. I came here in 1997, I was without a job for a seven month; I relied on my friends for every thing. It was horrible and I was sick and very bored. Finally I got a job receiving and shipping in a night shift, and I start taking ESL classes. It was my turning points I was able to send money to my family, to go bars, buy good clothes, share the rent, and be able celebrate again with my family and friends through phone calls.
07/16/07
Hard work is part of my tradition
I was born and raised in farmland in southern Somalia. The method of farming there is still primitive, and not only hard work, but it require waking up 6am and walking about three kilometers away from the village. I started working young, as I was six years old. Our tradition is formed by the seasons of rain, which takes place twice a year. These times we put the seeds into the ground. We grew sorghum, corn (maize), sesame. Near towns, we raise vegetables and fruits. After three months we began harvesting again. When the hard work is over we celebrate about a week. We the people in the southern part Somalia we are very settled, our lives depend on farming; we are individualist and hard working and the rest of Somalia are nomads who are continuously moving from place to place. Since my culture is based upon hard work. I am very proud of my culture and I love it.
WhenI came to the US I have never thought I would be out of work this long.But the life is cruel same times. I came here in 1997, I was without a job for a seven month; I relied on my friends for every thing. It was horrible and I was sick and very bored. Finally I got a job receiving and shipping in a night shift, and I start taking ESL classes. It was my turning points I was able to send money to my family, to go bars, buy good clothes, share the rent, and be able celebrate again with my family and friends through phone calls.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Who is the Horn Relief? Horn Relief is a non profit organization which has established itself throughout Somalia after the civil war in 1992. When Somalia plunged into a chaos, this organization replaced government institutions for the Somali people. As a matter of fact, horn relief has done so much different work in Somali,that I cannot summarize it all in this paper. Who founded Horn Relief organization?Horn relief was founded by a Somali American lady who grew upAnd was educated in the eastern part of the United States. Her name is Faduma Jibril, and she has been the executive director of Horn relief since 2005. She recently transferred her position to
another Somali who had she trained and worked with for a long time in Horn Relief.
What does Horn Relief do in Somalia?
Horn relief has multiple duties in Somalia. For example, if a disaster comes along such as, a draught, a flood, cholera or malaria, Horn Relief s the first one who assists those who need it the most. They provide medicine, food, tents and transportation. Also Horn Relief facilitates and aids the elders when the tribes have quarrels. Horn relief tries to tackle a combination of problems like reopening water wells, renovating roads and promoting health awareness.
However, Since Faduma Jibrill originally came from Somalia; her NGO is different from the rest of the NGOS which operate in Somalia, because the other NGOS have limited tasks. But Horn Relief has no borders. For example; horn relief campaigns against environmentally destructive practices such as charcoal production and rangeland, water misuse and illegal fishing. In addition Horn Relief has trained, and educated the nomads and the city folk alike on how to use solar cooking in order to replace and save charcoal. Horn Relief is the first organization to introduce Africa solar power.
The Mission of the Horn Relief
Towards to Somalia is to provide education in the pastoral communities, and necessary skills from a grass root level. Also Horn Relief prepares and creates leadership, empowering women so they can meet their own needs. Horn relief is the first NGO to introduce cash programs; because the Horn Relief has understood the needs of the nomadic people.Horn Relief has done surveys of the pastoral community and asked what is best meets their needs such as $50 Dollar cash or a sack of grain. The people told Horn Relief that they prefer the money.Their reason being that they can buy sugar, milk or other nutrient for their children. Therefore the cash program became a model throughout east African NGOS and soon may spread to the world.
Nevertheless since the civil war, Horn Relief has helped the Somali people in different ways, whether in the educational sector, healthcare land conservation, illegal fishing and empowering women for future leadership. Therefore Horn Relief has become one of the most respected NGOS to the people of Somalia. As matter of fact Horn Relief operates and behaves like a devoted citizen to the country and to its people. The people in Somalia love this NGO more than other NGOS and really Horn Relief enjoys that trust from the community.
another Somali who had she trained and worked with for a long time in Horn Relief.
What does Horn Relief do in Somalia?
Horn relief has multiple duties in Somalia. For example, if a disaster comes along such as, a draught, a flood, cholera or malaria, Horn Relief s the first one who assists those who need it the most. They provide medicine, food, tents and transportation. Also Horn Relief facilitates and aids the elders when the tribes have quarrels. Horn relief tries to tackle a combination of problems like reopening water wells, renovating roads and promoting health awareness.
However, Since Faduma Jibrill originally came from Somalia; her NGO is different from the rest of the NGOS which operate in Somalia, because the other NGOS have limited tasks. But Horn Relief has no borders. For example; horn relief campaigns against environmentally destructive practices such as charcoal production and rangeland, water misuse and illegal fishing. In addition Horn Relief has trained, and educated the nomads and the city folk alike on how to use solar cooking in order to replace and save charcoal. Horn Relief is the first organization to introduce Africa solar power.
The Mission of the Horn Relief
Towards to Somalia is to provide education in the pastoral communities, and necessary skills from a grass root level. Also Horn Relief prepares and creates leadership, empowering women so they can meet their own needs. Horn relief is the first NGO to introduce cash programs; because the Horn Relief has understood the needs of the nomadic people.Horn Relief has done surveys of the pastoral community and asked what is best meets their needs such as $50 Dollar cash or a sack of grain. The people told Horn Relief that they prefer the money.Their reason being that they can buy sugar, milk or other nutrient for their children. Therefore the cash program became a model throughout east African NGOS and soon may spread to the world.
Nevertheless since the civil war, Horn Relief has helped the Somali people in different ways, whether in the educational sector, healthcare land conservation, illegal fishing and empowering women for future leadership. Therefore Horn Relief has become one of the most respected NGOS to the people of Somalia. As matter of fact Horn Relief operates and behaves like a devoted citizen to the country and to its people. The people in Somalia love this NGO more than other NGOS and really Horn Relief enjoys that trust from the community.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
How To Make Haan, A The Somali Jug
HOW TO MAKE HAAN, A THE SOMALI JUG
Haan is a special jug which Somali people in the rural area use as a water tank. It is made from small trees called Qabo. The jug can hold about 30 gallons of milk or water. Since the nomads in Somalia usually live far form the city or water wells, it is essential to them to have the haanor buy one. Haan has been used for several purposes, such as to store water or milk, to transport milk to the city in order to sell, or bring water from the wells at home, also to sell to someone in the area. Haan will not change the odor of the milk or the water for several days. Haan is good for the health because it is natural. Haan helps the environment because when it gets old they can throw it away and it will dissolve to the soil.
In addition, it will not cost that much if you know how to make haan. Usually Somali women who make haan first collect the Qabo trees from the bush, which is pulled out form the ground, peeled from the root of trees. and tearing of roots. After those ladies start weaving the haan the process takes about a month.
Finally when haan has been completed then the women gather another tree, which has red ink. They collect enough red ink and add it to water. After that the women put the haan into the red ink and they lie the haan out on the sun the whole day and haan will became hard and impermeable for the liquid inside. Once the haan has been cleaned inside out and is ready to use.
Haan is a special jug which Somali people in the rural area use as a water tank. It is made from small trees called Qabo. The jug can hold about 30 gallons of milk or water. Since the nomads in Somalia usually live far form the city or water wells, it is essential to them to have the haanor buy one. Haan has been used for several purposes, such as to store water or milk, to transport milk to the city in order to sell, or bring water from the wells at home, also to sell to someone in the area. Haan will not change the odor of the milk or the water for several days. Haan is good for the health because it is natural. Haan helps the environment because when it gets old they can throw it away and it will dissolve to the soil.
In addition, it will not cost that much if you know how to make haan. Usually Somali women who make haan first collect the Qabo trees from the bush, which is pulled out form the ground, peeled from the root of trees. and tearing of roots. After those ladies start weaving the haan the process takes about a month.
Finally when haan has been completed then the women gather another tree, which has red ink. They collect enough red ink and add it to water. After that the women put the haan into the red ink and they lie the haan out on the sun the whole day and haan will became hard and impermeable for the liquid inside. Once the haan has been cleaned inside out and is ready to use.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Overcoming Obstacles
The current president of Somalia MR Yusuf has over come many obstacles. Yusus was a young Somali military officer in 1969 when Somalia became communist and he defied a government order to carry on communist agenda .therefore the government has jailed him from 1969-1976.He was then released, and sent to the war between the Ethiopia and Somalia. The government was hoping that he may be killed, but he came back, and immediately tried to overthrow the government. He failed, but escaped capture. However his comrades were caught and killed by the government.
Yusuf went to Ethiopia. Where he was set up a base, for an anti government. known as Somali Salvation Democratic. He started army groups against Somalia, and radio propaganda. Yusuf was the most hated man by the regime that time. Nevertheless the Somali government and the Ethiopians agreed to stop all aggression on both sides and formed mutual relationship. Therefore the Ethiopian government jailed Yusuf starting in 1998 and released him in 1991.
Unfortunately when Yusuf came out of prison Somalia was in civil war. However he moved to the eastern region of Somalia where he set up a autonomous administration, of Puntland. At that time, the rest of Somalia was dominated by warlords, It was unorganized mainly in the south, except for little enclave in the north which was relatively clam. There were many attempts to settle Somali problem by the world the community who tried but failed. However a long reconciliation started in Kenya in 2002 while the negotiation were under way and other groups was fragmented Yusuf already had a political base and he could lobby the international community and within Somalis who finally repaid him byelecting him current president of Somalia for 2004.
Yusuf went to Ethiopia. Where he was set up a base, for an anti government. known as Somali Salvation Democratic. He started army groups against Somalia, and radio propaganda. Yusuf was the most hated man by the regime that time. Nevertheless the Somali government and the Ethiopians agreed to stop all aggression on both sides and formed mutual relationship. Therefore the Ethiopian government jailed Yusuf starting in 1998 and released him in 1991.
Unfortunately when Yusuf came out of prison Somalia was in civil war. However he moved to the eastern region of Somalia where he set up a autonomous administration, of Puntland. At that time, the rest of Somalia was dominated by warlords, It was unorganized mainly in the south, except for little enclave in the north which was relatively clam. There were many attempts to settle Somali problem by the world the community who tried but failed. However a long reconciliation started in Kenya in 2002 while the negotiation were under way and other groups was fragmented Yusuf already had a political base and he could lobby the international community and within Somalis who finally repaid him byelecting him current president of Somalia for 2004.
Harvesting Festival
The harvest festival usually takes place in southern Somalia in July. The method of farming is still in a primitive stage and it is hard labor. Therefore, people of the village get together and work on one farm at the time. That operation is known as Goob.
During Goob strong men pick up sorghum and Maize seeds and dumped them into big wells which they have dug into the ground called Bukaar. After that, they cover the holes for cement so that they can protect from rain, animals and thieves. While the men are doing heavy work, boys and girls wrap up the stalks and put them on the open field to sell. Meanwhile women prepare the food for the festival.
When the works has been complete, all the people of the village get together again and start celebrating. They start morning about 9am and finish about 5pm. Strong men will wrestle, race and ride horses. Finally there are prizes to pay each and every individual winner. Those prizes could be Somali Shiling or could be Sack of sorghum or maize. That is how we celebrate the harvest in southern Somalia. Since I have left in Somalia I missed the celebration of harvesting festival and working together for Goob.
During Goob strong men pick up sorghum and Maize seeds and dumped them into big wells which they have dug into the ground called Bukaar. After that, they cover the holes for cement so that they can protect from rain, animals and thieves. While the men are doing heavy work, boys and girls wrap up the stalks and put them on the open field to sell. Meanwhile women prepare the food for the festival.
When the works has been complete, all the people of the village get together again and start celebrating. They start morning about 9am and finish about 5pm. Strong men will wrestle, race and ride horses. Finally there are prizes to pay each and every individual winner. Those prizes could be Somali Shiling or could be Sack of sorghum or maize. That is how we celebrate the harvest in southern Somalia. Since I have left in Somalia I missed the celebration of harvesting festival and working together for Goob.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
