Stirring Hope: Fadumo's Cooking Brings Nourishment and Opportunity to Somaliland's School Children
Fadumo as she prepares food for students. The scent of simmering spices hangs heavy in the air as Fadumo Ali Abdulle, a mother of nine (3 girls and 6 boys), stirs a pot of bubbling porridge with a mixture of vegetables. Her hands, shaped by years of experience, move with the grace of a seasoned chef. She is a pillar of Daraselam Primary School, located just a few kilometers outside of Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. Her work, along with that of her colleagues, is not just about cooking, but about making a difference in the lives of school-going children. The school has an enrollment of 154 students (80 boys and 64 girls). Fadumo has been working as a cook for nearly 14 years. "My daily routine is quite hectic, I wake up before dawn at 4:00 am, and walk an hour and a half to school because I don’t want to be late, she explains. Despite volunteering, Fadumo's key message is that her love for her work fuels her perseverance in the face of her family...