Abaarso School student Hayat (Raxma) Mohammed Yusuf recieved an award for third best story in the girls' competition at the Hargeisa International Book Fair (http://www.hargeysabookfair.com/2014/) this August for her short story Sharaf. Sharaf explores the obstacles faced by women and their husbands in polygamous and arranged marriages.
The award includes an apprenticeship with a professional Somali author to help Hayat develop her story into a larger novel for publication. "I am very happy to receive this award because it encouraged me to continue with writing" said Hayat. "Besides the fact that I am from a family where writing is valued, I consider writing the most important aspect of my life. I do not think that I inherited writing, but it is my passion and I am strongly related to it."
Writing has become a powerful experience for Hayat. "For me, writing is not just putting words together, but experiencing what it would mean to be a different person, in different situations and hardships. Additionally, writing helps me move on during obstacles because whenever I am down or mad at something or someone, I write down about the situation and what is circling in my mind."
[caption id="attachment_2071" align="alignnone" width="300"]"Writing is my power; in other words, my life"
Hayat (Raxma) Mohammed Yusuf with her award[/caption]Click the link below to read Hayat's story.