19-years-old Ahmed Abdirizack Ahmed is a visually impaired form two student at Khadija Bintu Khuwailid Secondary school in Garowe.
Ahmed lost his sight due to measles-related complication when he was nine at Qabri-daharre town in the Somali region of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.
Without informing his plans to his parents, Ahmed, who loved education, travelled to Garowe to join secular education after finishing his Qoranic school.
He later enrolled at a school for the visually impaired children in Garowe in 2009.
“My parents were unaware of my plans and I trekked several days to reach my final destination here Garowe,” he said.
“Despite all the challenges of my condition, I was committed to my education,” he added.
Despite enrolled at the local school, Ahmed’s pastoral family were not happy with his decision to seek education in an urban centre.
“My family believed that I went for medical attention and will be back soon,” he said.
“I got lots of pressure back home to return as soon as possible,” he added.
Even though there was mounting pressure, Ahmed convinced his family to continue with his education.
“I persuaded my parents that I have a dream to fulfill through education but they wanted me to stay with them home which I declined,” he said.
Courageous Ahmed who is now in his second year in high school says he wants to continue his studies until university level while urging other visually impaired to join education for a better future.
Abdirahman Mohamed Haji/FM
