The Village director showing children the full moon in Children's…
A new SOS Children's Village recently opened in Hargeisa, Somaliland, and this report is about how the children are getting used to their new home. The Village director Abdirahman Karie speaks about the situation of children in and around Hargeisa:
- Lisa
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The Village director showing children the full moon in Children's Village Hargeisa, Somalia.
A new SOS Children's Village recently opened in Hargeisa, Somaliland, and this report is about how the children are getting used to their new home. The Village director Abdirahman Karie speaks about the situation of children in and around Hargeisa:
"Most of the children are from destitute families" Karie says, "and some of the children were found abandoned." He adds that the problem of destitution became significant after the civil war in the 1980s: "Many families moved to Hargeisa as internally displaced persons and lived in terrible conditions. I have never seen such desperate families with parents unable to feed their children."
Many men, who were the breadwinners, were killed and badly wounded during the civil war. Those that survived may have lost limbs and it is not uncommon to see men - those that have some mobility - being pushed around Hargeisa in wheelbarrows or limping on crutches.
"It's my dream", Karie remarks, "that this village in Hargeisa will be a pioneer village for other villages in Somaliland and that all children will grow up in a peaceful environment". And Somaliland, unlike its warring neighbour, Somalia, is peaceful. There is no sound of gunfire or exploding mortars - just the buzz of generators, the regular ring of mobile phones and the braying of donkeys to disturb the peace.
"This is where we would like our children to grow," declares Karie, who thinks often about the children of Mogadishu. "We are extremely sad that children and mothers and other workers in Mogadishu are currently displaced from the SOS Children's Village and living in fear in different locations of that town.".
- Mary
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Boy exercising with braille at SOS Children's Village Poá, Brazil.
I found this very thoughtful interview with a little six-year old girl who is blind from birth, and has had a difficult early start to life, but at SOS Children's Village Poa she is learning to enjoy being part of a family. This is her story in her own words:
"My name is Karol. I have got a twin sister living with me in the village. Our mother died at the time of our birth. [...] we spent many days in incubators. Within a month, we were brought together again. At that time, a doctor said we were in good conditions to go home...But, what home!
It was decided the sisters should grow up in an SOS Village.
Karol continues "when I was about five months old, my SOS mother perceived a difficulty of sight in my eyes. She says she put things in front of me, moved them and shook them, but I couldn't focus on them. She took me to an optician who confirmed that I had gone blind.
I am six now and I am doing the first level of elementary school. My teacher says I am doing it well and that my memory is great, because I learn very quickly. [...] I love to play with my twin sister Rose and with my friends in the village. I know where everything is better than anybody else. I can run without trouble" she laughs.
I am happy because my SOS mother loves me a lot. She was the first to learn Braille. She did it for me. She actually became my first writing teacher... although I can't see, I am really happy."
The village has given little Karol a new life opportunity and she is so brave that she won't certainly let it go.
For privacy reasons, we have changed the name of the little girl and her twin sister.
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