SORADI Annual Conference

Forced into the war zone 26-year-old Ilyaas Ahmed Omar is still traumatized by the journey to Yemen and what he thought would be the answer to the hopelessness in Hargeisa.

- I was arrested and thrown in prison in Yemen, and was only released after two months, but I went on to Saudi Arabia to find work, says Ilyaas Ahmed Omar.

It is expensive to venture out on the perilous trips over the Gulf of Aden. And for many, it is a journey that has cost a family their entire savings, and often with loans that need to be repaid.

- I managed to find work, but after awhile I was arrested again because I was living in the country illegally and without a work permit. After four months in prison, I was put on a plane to Mogadishu, and landed in the middle of a civil war and a whole lot of problems, says Ilyaas Ahmed Omar, with a look of fear in his eyes.

Many of those forcibly sent back to their country of origin land in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, where civil war rages, and a frontline cuts through the city. They are easy prey for the rebel movement al-Shabaab who recruits children and adolescents. Ilyaas Ahmed Omar toofell victim to the rebel’s recruitment. Hecould only leave Mogadishu after three weeks as an involuntary participant in a civil war far from his home town of Hargeisa in Somaliland.

New hope in Hargeisa

Both 18-year-old HoodaAbdulahi and 26-yearold Ahmed Omar Ilyaas have gained skills and expectations from the project,Turning the Tide. But it takes more than optimism to create the prosperity which the Somali youth are waiting for impatiently. For a start, they have been given a helping hand and something new to believe in. Now, hope has yet to prove itself to young women and men like HoodaAbdulahi and Ahmed Omar Ilyaas in Somaliland.

[1812 words] Xasan Daahir ismaaciil {Weedhsame}

Ifkay gogoshiisu hawl tay Ogow galab noolba waa shil Ma oge taladii u goostay Ma oga gurigay furayso Galiilyada moog dambaysa. Naftana hungraa gadhqaada Cakuye damacaa ku guura Haddana godobtiyo lurkeeda Gefkiyo ceebtiyo xunkeeda Ogow garashaa u qoollan. Wedkana gamaskii ma iisho Gaashaan celiyaa ma baajo Ishaa gabadheed ma daaho Ninnaba gabbalkii ma waaro Wax aan hubo geeri kow dheh. Taniyo anigoo gurguurta Ilaa maantoo gadh leeyey War geeddiya oo i qooma Geddaafo wacaal xambaarsan Dhegtaydu maxay guddoontay Intaan tebay gaan la waayey Maxaan murugadda la goohay Barbaartii iga gablooshay Kuwaan guruxyada u belay Markaan godobtooda raadshay Gunaadiyo ciil gadhoodhay Miyaan gocashadda ku qoomay, Bad gawliyo gacanka xeebta Miyaan gooddiyey guhaadshay Gartayda miyaan bilaabay ‘haddaad maxastayda gawrac Badyahay kaga gooban weyday Inaad birmageydadayda Sidaa u gashaa gar maaha Alleylehe waad gumowday! Geshaan kugu leeyey qaana Gar qaado ha soo gignaane Ilaah naaraha ku geeye Adaa gadhmadoobahayga Haweenkiyo gaaridayda Ku gaasira meel go’doona Gudhoo galabtaba abaadso Biyuhu gororoo ku gawdhshe Gawaan noqo meel garoona Dhul geeddigu galabcaraabo.’ Intay guuxday gigleysay Hirkiyo doobtay garaacday Waxay tidhi ‘guurowgaagu Gefiyo waa igu geddaafo Ma geyo godobtaad i saartay Aweytida aad ganayso Miyaan galabsaday bal kaadso Adoo geyigaagu liito Hadduu sahankaagu gaabsho Hadduu samirkaagu guuro Qaneecaadkuna gabnoobo Quustoo kugu geylamaysa Garaad hirilaa ka seexdo Miyaan geerida shinkeeda Horteed geeddigu ku geynin? Hablaha guday ee tahriibay Hir gaatamayaa idleeyey Geed ay cuskadaana waayey Markii gacal baajin waayey Shariidku miyuu gasiintay?

Tiiyoo xeebaha goshooda Meydkeennii galangalcoobay Miyaad garan weyday kaadso.