A Somali farmer feeds and educates a community

Hassan is no stranger to hard work. It’s an ethic his parents instilled in him from childhood growing up in Lama waab, Somalia. They also had the foresight to ensure he not only worked the land, but also his mind by putting him in school.

“They understood its importance for a better future and worked tirelessly to provide for my schooling. Through the fruits of our labour—selling farming products—we managed to make ends meet and ensure I could attend school up to the intermediate level.”

However, financial constraints eventually caught up with Hassan’s family and he had to forego secondary education to work on the farm. But he never gave up on his dream of teaching children.

Today, he gets up early in the morning to tend to crops and livestock before heading to the school where he teaches. “It is a fulfilling balance, nurturing both the land and young minds, each day bringing new challenges and rewards,” he says.

That balance has recently come under pressure due to climate-change-driven flooding that has damaged both water supply systems and the canals farmers use for their livelihoods. Hassan says five of his six hectares of cropland were flooded by rainfall of unexpected duration and intensity. Not only has he lost the crops, but he points out that the excess water has increased the risk of crop diseases and soil erosion, which generates further long-term harm.

He has recognized that he’ll need to take proactive measures and planning to mitigate the ensuing risk. This is where he and other farmers in his community have partnered with World Vision on a series of water-related projects. The El Niño flood response, supported by World Vision Canada, with funding from Global Affairs Canada’s Canadian Humanitarian Assistance Fund and the Humanitarian Coalition, is improving access to clean water and latrines. World Vision Somalia’s Project Restore is helping to rehabilitate the canals, which includes drainage measures and replanting.

A welcome effort on the occasion of World Environment Day, this means is that Hasan and other farmers will be able to maintain their agricultural livelihoods even after natural disasters. They’ll also improve their community’s overall health by reducing the spread of waterborne disease.

Perhaps just as importantly, this effort has the potential to create space for Hassan to further build on his other love: teaching children. He plans to finish his own schooling that was cut short, after which he can make an even greater contribution to his community.

Says Hassan, “I am most passionate about teaching younger children. Witnessing the spark of curiosity and the joy of discovery in their eyes ignites a fire within me that drives my dedication to education.”