Refugee
Mothers: Stories of Sacrifice and Love
Mothers are known for doing anything for their children.
Jamila Abdulle’s story is an example of how true that sentiment is amongst
refugee mothers.
In 2009, Jamila had to walk 1,200 kilometers to another
country, while carrying her sick child in her arms in hopes of seeking medical
attention. She made the journey from Mogadishu, Somalia to Kampala, Uganda to
save her then 5-year-old daughter, Sagal. Sagal was born with a hole in her
heart and was in desperate need of medical attention which was nowhere to be
found in the war-torn area the family called home.
So Jamila made the difficult decision to leave behind her
husband and seven other children to seek help. She joined a traveling group of
men, elderly women and children and physically carried Sagal the entire way to
Kampala for 21 days. Jamila even helped a pregnant woman in the group deliver
along the way, using the knowledge she received from a nursing training program
she had gone through. Sadly, Sagal’s condition grew worse along the treacherous
journey.
Fortunately Jamila met another Somali family in a refugee
camp in Kampala who referred her to a hospital run by the United Nations. From
there, arrangements were made to send Jamila and Sagal to Phoenix through the
International Rescue Committee in September 2011. Upon arriving, Sagal received
open-heart surgery and is much healthier now. Sagal can now run and play with
the other children in her neighborhood.
Challenges still lie ahead for Jamila in her new home. She
has gotten by so far on assistance from the IRC and lives in Chandler with two
Somali friends she became friends with upon after her arrival. The IRC is
providing Jamila with critical employment services including vocational
training and job applications. Despite those obstacles, Jamila has much to be
hopeful for in Phoenix. She is happy her daughter is healing and says her
favorite part of being a mother is “the beauty of being with my kids.”
April Chiu and Rud Moe are two student volunteers with
Community Outreach and Advocacy for Refugees (COAR) at Arizona State University
who met Jamila in October 2011 and can attest to her determined and passionate
spirit. The IRC partners with COAR to provide newly arrived refugees with
mentors who help them learn English and become familiar with American culture.
April said Jamila has done an exceptional job in caring for
not only herself, but her daughter as well. “Both Jamila and Sagal are
extremely intelligent, independent, and positive individuals. They are very
compassionate and are very hospitable whenever my partner and I visit them in
their home,” she said. “They are also very eager to learn new things,
especially the English language. I feel that despite the language barrier we've
been able to connect with Jamila and Sagal and are very fond of them.”
“Even though learning another language from scratch is a
daunting task, Jamila has kept with it consistently. She is very sharp and
pragmatic about her situation as a new immigrant.” Rud said.
Jamila hopes the rest of her family will join her in Phoenix
as soon as possible. With the help of the IRC Jamila wants to learn English,
find employment and eventually buy her own home. What ultimately gives her strength she said
is her desire to complete her nursing training so she can have more
opportunities. No matter what it takes, Jamila is willing to go above and
beyond for her family and that’s what makes her a woman to celebrate.
