Qamar Osman

Ruqiya O. Mohamud: The Civil Engineer Whose Dream Was Ruined By The Civil War I am dedicating this story to One of the first Somali women who studied Civil Engineering at Somali National University. A woman who had a long career in education and public service.  Ruqiya Osman Mohamud was born in Mogadishu in 1958. Her family moved to Ceelbuur in the Galgaduud region, where she took her primary education in Macalin Jamac school. After she finished her primary school, in 1972-1976 she moved back to Mogadishu to start high school at Howlwadaag secondary school.  After she graduated from secondary school, she served one year for the nation. This was the norm where everyone who finished secondary education had to go through national service for one year.  Ruqiya was keen to study engineering. She was interested in studying civil and urban engineering. It was not common for Somali women to study engineering at the time. But Ruqiya wanted to break the norms and be the first...

  In March 2007, My dad Sheikh Osman Gaacuur died in Mogadishu. My father was a religious man and a very kind person. He was energetic, always happy, and rarely got mad. He raised all his children to follow his ways and we were blessed to have him in our life. I lost someone I admired most in my life. He was an inspiration for me and my siblings. We learned so much from him. He used to tell us that life is always a struggle, and we can overcome it if we fight harder. Before his death, life was simple. My siblings and I  used to go to school and Quranic Madarasa ' daily except weekends.  My mother used to care for us, and control our daily lives , while my father checked on us and fixed our needs.  Our life has never been the same. His death happened just before the Ethiopian military took over Mogadishu. We were forced to flee and move to Jowhar. This has changed our life. Leaving our home after the loss of our father was a painful experience. I would always ref...