Ayan Abdinasir, "I long for higher education"

Ayan Abdinasir, 16, was born into a poor family in Galkayo. Going to a regular school was not an option since her family could not afford the fees, so she went to a Koranic school. The family, four children and their mother, depend on whatever the mother can make from selling tomatoes in the market.

"My mother sells vegetables on a small table in the market and that was all we had and most times it was not enough to feed us. So she could not afford to send me to school."

Seeing other children in her Koranic school leaving early so they could go to regular school made her envious.

"I wanted to go to school so badly, when I heard about Mama Hawa's school [Galkayo Education Centre for Peace and Development] taking in girls, I went without telling my mother."

She went to the centre and was told to bring her parents to enrol. "They told me to bring my mother, but since I did not tell her that I had visited the school, I could not bring her. I was disappointed but I did not give up.

"I came every morning and they told me the same thing. After a week I was enrolled."

At first she had to hide from her mother the fact that she was going to school. "Every morning I would go to Koranic school and then tell the [Koranic] teacher that I had to leave because I was going to school.

"It went on like that for three months and then I had to tell my mother that I was going to school. My mother is very supportive of my desire to educate myself and help others.

"I have now finished my eighth year of school and have graduated. I am now a volunteer at the centre and would like to get a higher education, including university.

"One day I want to be able to help other women the way I was helped. I also want to support my mother so she can have a better life. I am very grateful to everyone in the group that helped me get an education.

"I also pray for peace and good government for all the people of my country."

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