Real Stories. Real Change.
At Waapo every project transforms lives, overcomes challenges, and rebuilds futures. These stories celebrate the impact we create together.
Every success story is a testament to community-driven change.
Asha Farah Cabdi is a 16-year-old girl living with her parents in Dhanaan village. She is deaf and has mental health challenges. One day, while she was searching for goats, a man approached her and attempted to engage her in conversation. Upon realizing that she could not speak and had cognitive impairments, he assaulted and raped her.
The case was referred by the Burco Community Committee to WAAPO frontline workers in Burco, who promptly provided temporary shelter for the young girl and her mother. In addition to offering safe accommodation, WAAPO extended medical support and facilitated a legal referral to ensure the family's well-being and access to necessary services. The perpetrator refused to provide any information so the case was brought to court. The convicted rapist was sentenced to seven years in prison and ordered to pay $2,500 in damages
WAAPO managed the case on a daily basis, ensuring continuous support until the case was officially closed. Following the closure of the case, the young girl was successfully reintegrated into society and is now staying with a family in Burco city. She is attending a disability school, where she receives the necessary educational support. Even after the closure of the case, WAAPO team continued to follow up on the young girl as she remains a disable minor who is also a survivor to ensure that any ongoing needs or issues are addressed.
The Women's Advocacy and Action Organization (WAAPO) played a crucial role in this case, advocating for Nimco's rights offering counseling support to both her and her parents.
Asha
Dhanaan village
My name is Naciima Ilyas, and I am 18 years old. I am a survivor of sexual assault. I was born in Harawa, Ethiopia and grew up there. When I was 15, I moved to Borama in search of a better life. Before starting my first job, I stayed with my grandmother. However, after a year, I wanted to be independent and started working as a house cleaner. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to receive an education as my family believed that girls did not need education and that it was not important for them.
I began my first job as a house cleaner, where I met a man through a WhatsApp group. He reached out to me frequently, eventually asking me to enter into a relationship with him. At first, I was hesitant, but after some time, I accepted his offer. We were in a relationship for a year, during which he proposed to me. I accepted, thinking that he was a kind and caring individual. We began making plans for our future and our wedding.
One day, he mentioned wanting to show me the house he intended to rent for us after our wedding. He picked me up around 7:00pm, and we began driving. After some time, he took me to a dark area with many trees. When I questioned him about our location, he stopped the car and offered me a bottle of liquid. I believed it to be water, but after refusing, he attempted to force me to drink it. I fought back, attempting to escape, but he revealed a knife and injured my right hand before coercing me to drink the liquid. He raped me and left me unconscious. Fortunately, I was found by passersby who took me to the hospital. It was then confirmed that I had been raped.
I received support and assistance from WAAPO during my recovery journey. I stayed at their safehouse, where I received counseling and medical treatment. With their help, I was able to find justice and see my perpetrator brought to account for his actions. It was revealed that he was already married with children and had no intention of marrying me; instead, he sought to harm me. After three months at the safehouse, I was able to return to my grandmother's care.
WAAPO informed me about a tailoring program for women’s empowerment, I joined the program, it was a healing journey for me. I found purpose and hope in life through learning a new skill. The classes were held three days a week, and I was determined to make the most of it.
I am grateful to WAAPO and UNCIFE for providing me with this opportunity. I now have a skill, a new outlook on life, and a dream of starting my own business.
I am Naciima Ilyas, a survivor and fighter, and I will continue to advocate for awareness about gender based violence and support others in their healing journey. This is my story of resilience and hope for a better future.
Naciima
Borama District
Asma, a 15-year-old deaf girl, from a small village near Ainaba District, faced unimaginable challenges when she was raped and got impregnated by her stepfather. Despite the trauma she endured, Asma displayed remarkable courage and resilience throughout her journey towards seeking justice and was brought to WAAPO where she and her mother received counseling, referral, and advocacy.
After giving birth to a baby boy, Asma's stepfather denied any involvement in the crime. Determined to hold him accountable, her mother fought for justice for her deaf daughter, MESAF GBV working group supported her and pursued legal action, including a DNA test to establish paternity which was fully paid for by NEFIS Network. The results conclusively proved the stepfather's guilt, leading to his conviction in a court of law.
Justice prevailed as the perpetrator was sentenced to 9 years in prison and ordered to pay $4000 in restitution. This outcome not only served as a form of closure for Asma and her child but also sent a powerful message that perpetrators of such heinous crimes would face consequences for their actions. Despite the harrowing ordeal she faced, Asma's mother’s bravery, resilience, and pursuit of justice serve as an inspiration to survivors of similar injustices.
WAAPO’s medical support and facilitation of the legal referral ensured the family's well-being and access to necessary services. WAAPO managed the case on a daily basis until its successful closure, during which the young girl, her son, and her mother were reintegrated into society. During their stay at the WAAPO safehouse, they gained valuable tailoring skills and were provided with a tailoring machine, which empowered them to become stronger and more independent. This support allowed them to no longer worry about their livelihood, as they were equipped with the means to sustain themselves and build a better future.
After giving birth to a baby boy, Asma's stepfather denied any involvement in the crime. Determined to hold him accountable, her mother fought for justice for her deaf daughter, MESAF GBV working group supported her and pursued legal action, including a DNA test to establish paternity which was fully paid for by NEFIS Network. The results conclusively proved the stepfather's guilt, leading to his conviction in a court of law.
Justice prevailed as the perpetrator was sentenced to 9 years in prison and ordered to pay $4000 in restitution. This outcome not only served as a form of closure for Asma and her child but also sent a powerful message that perpetrators of such heinous crimes would face consequences for their actions. Despite the harrowing ordeal she faced, Asma's mother’s bravery, resilience, and pursuit of justice serve as an inspiration to survivors of similar injustices.
WAAPO’s medical support and facilitation of the legal referral ensured the family's well-being and access to necessary services. WAAPO managed the case on a daily basis until its successful closure, during which the young girl, her son, and her mother were reintegrated into society. During their stay at the WAAPO safehouse, they gained valuable tailoring skills and were provided with a tailoring machine, which empowered them to become stronger and more independent. This support allowed them to no longer worry about their livelihood, as they were equipped with the means to sustain themselves and build a better future.
Asma
Ainaba District
In a culture that is constantly exposing us to stories of hardship and misfortune, hearing about someone who has surmounted challenges and achieved their goals is always encouraging. Ahmed Ismail H.Sulieman is somaliland resident who lives in the Togdheer region, especially in IDP Ali Hussein Buroa. Ahmed is a father of five children who live with his mother and his family, and he is the firstborn among them. Ahmed's family was unable to cover the cost of his university education after he completed
high school in 2017. He stayed for a while without any proceeding, neither job nor edication. Shortly thereafter, Ahmed got married to his wife, and things got more difficult when he brought his wife over to his family, and their life expenses have become hard to manage. One day, Ahmed received a call from WAAPO and was told to come up with a business idea that would be funded by the Unicef Upshift Program. Ahmed brainstormed and came up with a plan to start a small grocery store in his neighborhood. With the funding from WAAPO, he was able to successfully launch his business and provide for his family. This opportunity not only helped Ahmed financially but also gave him a sense of purpose and direction in life.
Ahmed took over and opened the store, managing it for six months while maintaining a healthy profit margin. As the shop continued to grow, he hired a worker for the shop to help with the increasing demand. This expansion allowed Ahmed to focus on further developing his business and exploring new opportunities for growth. With greater enthusiasm, ahmed has been able to get back to his education and start his university while the shop was supporting his university tuition and other expenses. Before the Upshift program, Ahmed was unable to provide for his family financially. However, after receiving funding, he was able to support his family as well as his parents through the shop's expenses.
Ahmed has become a business savvy person who intends to expand his business if he gets funding or other support like this. Ahmed and his family currently reside on land that he has purchased. Ahmed has recently received his degree in human resources and management from New Generation University. Ahmed's success story serves as inspiration to others in the community who may be facing similar challenges.
Ahmed
Buroa