Mother Tongue - Aisha Handule

“I remember as a child, as young as 10, my dad would have me sit next to him and send emails to his brothers back home. He would have me sit there at the computer desk, (mainly because I was better at technology than him considering I was obsessed with computers) but that aside, I truly think the main reason behind it was to actually get me to learn the Somali language. He would say the message he would want to send out loud and he would have me type it in Somali, standing behind me and constantly correcting me whenever I made a mistake. The first few months, it took at least half an hour to write a paragraph with my constant errors, but he was there, patiently correcting my mistakes till I could differentiate between my long and short vowels. I am so grateful for that, because this has helped me so much now, especially contacting my relatives that I haven’t met in overseas and others who added me on Facebook, making it so much easier for me to actually communicate and have a mutual understanding. They are usually so impressed, saying how it’s amazing someone who has been taken to a western country at the age of two can be so aware and know how to speak and write Somali so well; little do they know the constant nagging and pressuring it took me to actually understand the Somali language from my father as child. Eight years later, and my dad still makes me write long text messages or emails he wants to send to relatives overseas, and we both joke about him just being lazy about it now by making me do it, since he doesn’t need to teach me it anymore. But it’s the least I could do for him for being so patient with me. I’m nowhere near where I want to be, as I tend to have tender and sudden realizations that I cannot sometimes speak my mother tongue. It’s kind of sad that you can forget how to say a simple word in Somali, but say it so easily in English. We betray our mother tongues, for the languages of nations who will never fully accept us. “Naa Somali ku hadal” will forever be the most used phrase in my household, but man I will be forever grateful for that! “- Aisha Handule

Samira Al-Baroud

"Somalia is a place of beauty despite being teared up because of the war. However, I believe us "the youth" should bring out our best to make a difference to our homeland.

I was born and raised in Kuwait and decided to go to Somalia for six whole months as a photographer, change the negative image of Somalia and to volunteer as well.

I want to share with you a story i wont be able to forget for the rest of my life, i mean, it changed me from the start and even changed the career I ever wanted. I have seen a homeless kid around 15 to 17 years old for the very first time sleeping in the streets in a rainy day and what shocked me was no one cared, everyone passed by carelessly and without taking a second. I was like are you SERIOUS?, I even asked a friend of mine living in Somalia about similar cases "homeless/street children" what does the government or NGOs or even a regular person do, Nothing he said. At that time, I asked myself. What if I was in his place? Would I want someone to show me at least they care, even if it is just by a warm smile?

The reason I am sharing this story with you is I believe in the power of volunteering and sharing your knowledge will help Somalia and Somalis in every mean. A friend of mine once told me, that we all know that many people are in need. We all KNOW that many people are having a lower quality of life. We all KNOW that we are blessed and better than others are. However, we all KNOW. We do not FEEL and there is a difference between KNOWING and FEELING. When you get to feel you will experience a different kind of beauty. This had made me realize that this actually falls for everything. If I am educated, I can pass my education and knowledge to others, if I have strength I can pass my work and effort to help someone who might be in need.

So anyone who's going this summer to Somalia, please Volunteer, Volunteer & Volunteer because it is YOU and only You who can make a difference. and please share your story with the world." — Samira Al Baroud .