Dr. Hawa Abdi

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My hero has helped shelter, provide medical services to, and educate over 90,000 people. Dr. Hawa Abdi began a movement that now offers free education for children from one to seven and free healthcare to the most vulnerable in her homeland, Somalia. Inspired by her mother, Abdi dedicated herself to becoming a doctor so that she could help those in need.

A docter taking care of a patient (http://www.dhaf.org/our-projects/healthcare/dsc043 (Workers of dhaf))

Abdi endured many obstacles in her lifetime, losing her mother as she was giving birth to her seventh child. Abdi was eleven at the time and watched the entire thing. As she watched she wished she could only help her mother and possibly save her. This later pushed her to get a education and learn to become a doctor. She would soon win a scholarship and go to college to study in medicine. After her years in college she came back and settled down on a farm where she had three children. Two girls and a boy. Since Abdi studied in medicine she asked the president of her country if she could found her own clinic, he said yes. With the small clinic she was able to start making little impacts on her community. But, after some years things started to hit the fan. First, Abdi's son passed away in a car accident at the age of twenty eight. Then the government had become corrupt which caused a civil war. Abdi was told to flee her war filled country, but she did not want too. She wanted to stay and be of service of any traveler that might make there way to her home. And they did, first one came, then two then four. Tens turned to twenty, twenty turned to forty, forty turned to one-hundred. Soon Abdi had thousands at her doorstep, all looking for a place to stay since there homes were turned into a war zones.." Eventually, more and more people began coming to Abdi's land, which eventually became known as Hawa Abdi Village. Abdi has sheltered over 90,000 refugees"(Abdi, Hawa, and Sarah J. Robbins). Abdi welcomed everyone and did her best to feed all. She was able to establish a system that fed almost 100,000 people.Abdi had to take on a great challenge, she did her best to try and keep everyone one happy helping with food and clothing and all the while tending to those who needed medical treatment. She was even able to stay strong during an attack on her community from rebel warlords.On the day of the attack boys around the age of 16 and 17 came and started shooting everything. "They did not seem to care that Mama Hawa, 63, was one of the only trained doctors for miles around, and that the clinic, school and feeding program she built on her land supported nearly 100,000 people,"(Abdi, Hawa, and Sarah J. Robbins). They went into the hospital and took anything they could all while shooting recklessly. Facing the possibility of death, Abdi stood strong, ''I told the gunmen, 'I'm not leaving my hospital,' '' Dr. Abdi said. ''I told them, 'If I die, I will die with my people and my dignity.' I yelled at them, 'You are young and you are a man, but what have you done for your society?"(Abdi, Hawa, and Sarah J. Robbins). They took Abdi hostage interrogating her and saying that she was too old and a women to have all that power. Abdi stayed calm and demanded that she be let go. The next day Abdi sent the warlord a letter demanding an apology for what his men had done. A apology was sent shortly. "Thanks to the generosity of donors, we've rebuilt the hospital bit by bit"( Abdi, Hawa, and Sarah J. Robbins)Abdi began to rebuild the hospital and completed it in no time., Even was able to add some new extensions to the community. Abdi was able to push past all the losses she endured and kept on doing good for others even if she did not have too. Her bravery and composure helped remind people that she would always watch after them.

Children getting a education. (http://www.dhaf.org/our-projects/healthcare/dsc043 (Workers of dhaf))

Dr. Hawa Abdi's kindness and caring nature was very helpful to those around her and saved many lives. "In the early 1990s, civil war broke out in Somalia, and Abdi began taking in refugees"(Abdi, Hawa, and Sarah J. Robbins). She opened up her home and resources to those who had lost their homes during the civil war. Abdi's caring nature made her decide to open up a mini clinic that was approved by the president before it was overrun by warlords. Soon, one person turned to two, two turned to four, and eventually, Abdi had thousands of people within her home and backyard. Abdi was a very warm hearted and selfless person who established a community for those who had nothing. "She was able to perform countless surgeries of many kinds, everything from Caesarean sections to tweezing out bullet fragments."(Abdi, Hawa, and Sarah J. Robbins). After being attacked by rebel warlord groups, Abdi was able to recover and continue helping others despite the threats and attacks men with power tried to throw her way. Many fights would break out and shootings would occur quite often in the community. On average the death count was around fifty people a day. To try and stop this, Abdi made the rule that said you could not live by the clan. This put a quick stop to the violence. Her selfless acts brought many people together and is another reason why she's a hero.

In conclusion Dr. Hawa Abdi's heroic acts are what makes her an inspiration. Her ability to focus on her goal and help others even in a war filled country is truly one of a kind. Not many can do what Abdi has done and is continuing to do. If I could imagine Abdi's message, it would be, if you find your passion, don't stop until you get it, you can accomplish anything.