Mushtaq Bashir Jamac, at the play therapy session along with her mother at the LWF EARC facility in Kismayo, Somalia. Photo: LWS – Kenya-Somalia Program
Stories of hope from Somalia where two girls and their families are supported to challenge stigma and achieve their dreams
(LWI) - From the moment you meet little Mushtaq Bashir Jamac, it’s hard to resist her bright eyes and radiant smile. At just a year and a half old, she exudes a joyful energy that instantly draws people close. Beneath that vibrancy, however, is a condition she has lived with since birth: Down syndrome. Her mother, Nimco Ali, describes her warmly: “That’s her nature. Everyone loves her for who she is.”
This deep affection has shaped Mushtaq’s journey, even though her Down syndrome diagnosis at birth initially left Nimco overwhelmed, unsure where to turn, and worried about her daughter’s health. However, her fear quickly gave way to determination as she sought information, connected with other parents, and looked for any support that could help her understand and care for her daughter.
Support and hope for families living with disability
Nimco’s search eventually led her to the Lutheran World Federation’s (LWF) Education Assessment and Resource Centre (EARC) in Kismayo, the capital of Jubaland State, supported by the Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) and other partners. The project offers specialized support and inclusive services to children and individuals with disabilities. It is an essential part of the LWF's broader efforts to promote dignity, inclusion, and the well-being of vulnerable communities in Somalia.
When Mushtaq arrived at the EARC at just 10 months old, she was experiencing hypotonia and significant delays in reaching key developmental milestones. She could not sit without support, and her posture and muscle tone required focused intervention.
Physiotherapy, targeted exercises and play-based sessions to strengthen her muscles and improve gross motor skills such as sitting, crawling, and balancing, helped immensely. For Nimco, these improvements brought relief and renewed hope.
Challenging stigma and misconceptions
Nimco explains that when she was young, children born with Down syndrome were often hidden away or placed in institutions, considered incapable of contributing to society. “But I know that my daughter is capable of doing so much when she grows up,” she says.
With the love and early intervention that Mushtaq receives today, Nimco is hopeful of a brighter future.
Mariam's story of resilience
In many parts of Somalia, years of conflict and crushing poverty have pushed families into survival mode where safety feels fragile, and dreams feel dangerous. And for countless girls, education is often the first sacrifice. It is replaced by housework, early responsibilities, and long-held beliefs that school is ‘not meant for them.’ But in the dusty lanes of an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Kismayo, a quiet revolution is taking place, led by a girl with a fierce spark in her eyes.
Mariam Mohamed (14) receives her new school uniform at Cadceed School in Kismayo, Jubbaland State of Somalia. Photo: LWS - Kenya Somalia Program
Mushtaq Bashir Jamac with her therapist and mother at the LWF EARC facility in Kismayo- Somalia. Photo: LWS - Kenya Somalia Program
Mariam Mohamed (14) lives with her mother and four siblings in a small shelter, patched together with whatever materials they could find. Life has not been kind; losing her father at a young age pushed the family into deeper uncertainty. Yet for Mariam, learning is her lifeline. “I am so passionate about excelling in my education and becoming an English teacher,” she says, her voice soft but sure. “Nothing can stop me from learning.”
Her mother, Batran Farah, raised her children alone after her husband’s death. And the journey has not been without pain. Mariam remembers walking to class on an empty stomach, pretending she was not hungry. “But I thank God I am still alive and learning. I still have hope.”
At school, Mariam’s passion shines. “She is a role model for many girls,” teacher Hussein Yussuf says. “Focused, hardworking, and undistracted.” That hope found new strength when the ALWS stepped in with support — school kits, a clean uniform, new desks, and nutritious dry rations for her family.
Living with dignity
Both mothers, Nimco and Batran, now prepare fortified porridge provided with funding support from ALWS, ensuring their children do not go hungry. Nimco receives support from EARC for psychosocial counselling and adult literacy classes that have developed her reading, writing, and numeracy skills. This has added to her confidence and ability to support her family.
Batran says that her family can live with dignity, while keeping her daughter’s dreams alive. In a society where many girls are still kept at home, Mariam continues to study and to dream. And in doing so, she is quietly rewriting the future of Somalia, one hopeful lesson at a time.
