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Keeping Hope Alive: One Woman: 90,000 Lives Changed
The moving memoir of one brave woman who, along with her daughters, has kept 90,000 of her fellow citizens safe, healthy, and educated for over 20 years in Somalia.
Dr. Hawa Abdi, "the Mother Teresa of Somalia" and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, is the founder of a massive camp for internally displaced people located a few miles from war-torn Mogadishu, Somalia. Since 1991, when the Somali government collapsed, famine struck, and aid groups fled, she has dedicated herself to providing help for people whose lives have been shattered by violence and poverty. She turned her 1300 acres of farmland into a camp that has numbered up to 90,000 displaced people, ignoring the clan lines that have often served to divide the country. She inspired her daughters, Deqo and Amina, to become doctors. Together, they have saved tens of thousands of lives in her hospital, while providing an education to hundreds of displaced children.
In 2010, Dr. Abdi was kidnapped by radical insurgents, who also destroyed much of her hospital, simply because she was a woman. She, along with media pressure, convinced the rebels to let her go, and she demanded and received a written apology.
Dr. Abdi's story of incomprehensible bravery and perseverance will inspire readers everywhere.
Dr. Hawa Abdi, "the Mother Teresa of Somalia" and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, is the founder of a massive camp for internally displaced people located a few miles from war-torn Mogadishu, Somalia. Since 1991, when the Somali government collapsed, famine struck, and aid groups fled, she has dedicated herself to providing help for people whose lives have been shattered by violence and poverty. She turned her 1300 acres of farmland into a camp that has numbered up to 90,000 displaced people, ignoring the clan lines that have often served to divide the country. She inspired her daughters, Deqo and Amina, to become doctors. Together, they have saved tens of thousands of lives in her hospital, while providing an education to hundreds of displaced children.
In 2010, Dr. Abdi was kidnapped by radical insurgents, who also destroyed much of her hospital, simply because she was a woman. She, along with media pressure, convinced the rebels to let her go, and she demanded and received a written apology.
Dr. Abdi's story of incomprehensible bravery and perseverance will inspire readers everywhere.
246 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2013
41 people are currently reading
2815 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
May 27, 2013
Prior to this book I knew only that Somalia was on the African continent and that they had pirates so it was advised to not sail anywhere near there as these pirates were killing people. If ever anyone has any doubt that one person can make a difference they should read this book. Her love for her country, the land and her people are so evident in every word written. I cannot begin to tell you the things this remarkable woman has gone through, suffered and yet still fought on, making inroads in a political system that is sorely stacked against her. Not only does one learn about her life, but also about the culture and political make-up of the Somalians. Tirelessly she soldiers on, fund raising, trying to get supplies and food to a drought stricken area. I can't even begin to express how much I admire this woman. Amazing.
April 19, 2014
What can be said to do justice to this woman, her daughters and all the people of Somalia? Hope is being kept alive. Unfortunately on the cover of the book there is the tag "[Doctor Abdi is] equal parts Mother Teresa and Rambo." I can't speak to Mother Teresa but I do know to equate Rambo is a joke in poor taste and a severe disservice to Doctor Abdi. Rambo as the pretend character has nothing on this women, her daughters and the suffering of the people and the hope they have of Somalia. The strength and courage of this woman is tremendous. Not only can one take hope away from this book for Somalia but for many other countries as well. It is my hope that other young people that pick up this book will find renewed courage to help their countries and/or other countries by sheer determination alone. It is not an easy track to follow, there are many things that can and will knock you down, but nothing will keep you down. You have to pick yourself up and keep going no matter how hard, how difficult it is to rise again, but you have to for it is right. She should be seen as an inspiration, hero/heroine and know that she is not unique, that there are many many other Doctor Abdis, women, men, children, transgendered, etc. out there with stories to tell, people to inspire and give hope to. It is a hope that there will be more and more Doctor Abdis coming forth into this world and that we will all be Doctor Abdis.
October 17, 2023
I will be thinking about this book a lot in the next couple of weeks. It was very intense. I have to admit, that I was quite hesitant to read this book at first. I wasn't keen on a lovey-dovey book of inspiration/hope and personally, I'm quite suspicious of big humanitarian organizations. Thank goodness, "Keeping Hope Alive" wasn't like that at all!
Dr. Hawa Abdi was born before the Somalian independence from Italy/Britain. I was really surprised to learn how different Somalia was back then, compared to now. Of course, Somalia was still traditional (Abdi suffered a child marriage), but at the wake of independence, people were keen to develop the country and pursue education. Following her divorce and hard work catching up with her studies, Abdi had the opportunity to study medicine in the Soviet Union and even got a scholarship. In the Soviet Union, she met her future husband Aden and when they returned back to Somalia, it seemed like everything was in their favor.
Abdi immediately found work at a hospital in Mogadishu and simultaneously managed to finish her law degree. Her husband as an engineer also found work easily. They had three children (two girls and one boy) and Abdi wisely invested her money in land and gold. But the country was maybe too premature for independence? The different clans in Somalia kept fighting and chaos ensued in the government. I didn't know how severe fighting was between the clans. It ruined the government, subsequently ruining the entire nation and lives of so many Somalis. It's frustrating.
When the fighting got worse, Abdi decided to sell her land in Mogadishu and buy land in the countryside. There she opened her own clinic, which ended up turning into a shelter place for the many displaced people from the countryside. She had to fight to upkeep and maintain the hospital, gather enough food for everybody, and at the same time she was having difficulties in her marriage, because her husband is from a northern clan, whereas Abdi is from the south.
I think this part of the book really impressed me and was out of my expectation. Abdi shares her tribulations with the readers and they aren't sweet at all. One of her sisters died. The other two sisters betrayed her. Her husband ran after a sheik in Saudi Arabia and ended up betraying her as well. She struggled to find the proper secondary and tertiary education for her children. She moved them to Nairobi and wondered if she made a huge mistake with her decision to remain in Somalia. She struggled with the droughts and all the refugees that flooded into her hospital. The illnesses and famine. On top of all of that, the clan fights worsened when radical Islam spread in Somalia after 9/11. This really broke my heart and made me angry. Humanitarian organizations that used to help Abdi had to flee the country. She herself had to make the difficult decision of leaving Somalia for a while and manage the hospital from afar. And there are more tragedies that befall her, but I don't want to spoil everything.
You see, it's not easy-going at all. And I find it incredible that despite all of these problems, she still managed to move on and work for the people. Until this day, Somalia is still a very chaotic country and Abdi herself admits that she wonders sometimes if it had been all worth it now that her children are inheriting her responsibilities and worries. I love how honest Abdi is in the book. Also, about her marriage and its troubles. And I love that as a Muslim, she can denounce polygamy, believing that children born from different mothers will always harbor some kind of hate against each other, which will just contribute to more clan fighting. Finally, I also like that she also admitted that at times she had to leave Somalia for her own safety and health. She wasn't a 24/7 hero, sometimes we need to think of ourselves too, even when thousands of lives depend on us.
What a life and what a book. I highly recommend this.
Dr. Hawa Abdi was born before the Somalian independence from Italy/Britain. I was really surprised to learn how different Somalia was back then, compared to now. Of course, Somalia was still traditional (Abdi suffered a child marriage), but at the wake of independence, people were keen to develop the country and pursue education. Following her divorce and hard work catching up with her studies, Abdi had the opportunity to study medicine in the Soviet Union and even got a scholarship. In the Soviet Union, she met her future husband Aden and when they returned back to Somalia, it seemed like everything was in their favor.
Abdi immediately found work at a hospital in Mogadishu and simultaneously managed to finish her law degree. Her husband as an engineer also found work easily. They had three children (two girls and one boy) and Abdi wisely invested her money in land and gold. But the country was maybe too premature for independence? The different clans in Somalia kept fighting and chaos ensued in the government. I didn't know how severe fighting was between the clans. It ruined the government, subsequently ruining the entire nation and lives of so many Somalis. It's frustrating.
When the fighting got worse, Abdi decided to sell her land in Mogadishu and buy land in the countryside. There she opened her own clinic, which ended up turning into a shelter place for the many displaced people from the countryside. She had to fight to upkeep and maintain the hospital, gather enough food for everybody, and at the same time she was having difficulties in her marriage, because her husband is from a northern clan, whereas Abdi is from the south.
I think this part of the book really impressed me and was out of my expectation. Abdi shares her tribulations with the readers and they aren't sweet at all. One of her sisters died. The other two sisters betrayed her. Her husband ran after a sheik in Saudi Arabia and ended up betraying her as well. She struggled to find the proper secondary and tertiary education for her children. She moved them to Nairobi and wondered if she made a huge mistake with her decision to remain in Somalia. She struggled with the droughts and all the refugees that flooded into her hospital. The illnesses and famine. On top of all of that, the clan fights worsened when radical Islam spread in Somalia after 9/11. This really broke my heart and made me angry. Humanitarian organizations that used to help Abdi had to flee the country. She herself had to make the difficult decision of leaving Somalia for a while and manage the hospital from afar. And there are more tragedies that befall her, but I don't want to spoil everything.
You see, it's not easy-going at all. And I find it incredible that despite all of these problems, she still managed to move on and work for the people. Until this day, Somalia is still a very chaotic country and Abdi herself admits that she wonders sometimes if it had been all worth it now that her children are inheriting her responsibilities and worries. I love how honest Abdi is in the book. Also, about her marriage and its troubles. And I love that as a Muslim, she can denounce polygamy, believing that children born from different mothers will always harbor some kind of hate against each other, which will just contribute to more clan fighting. Finally, I also like that she also admitted that at times she had to leave Somalia for her own safety and health. She wasn't a 24/7 hero, sometimes we need to think of ourselves too, even when thousands of lives depend on us.
What a life and what a book. I highly recommend this.
October 3, 2018
The true story of an amazing woman who devoted her life to helping others through medicine. In Somalia, her home, women were meant to marry and stay in the house. Her father had a different mindset and with his blessing, she traveled to the Soviet Union and earned a degree in medicine. She also became a lawyer. As a female doctor, she was pushed toward pediatrics and women's health and women were drawn to her. Many showed up at her home asking for treatment. With her family, she opened her own hospital, saving the lives of many women and children.
Rival gang lords wanted to control everything in Somalia including her hospital. It was not seemly for a woman to own important property even though she had built it herself, kept the patients alive herself through widespread starvation and disease. Her ongoing conflicts with ungoverned armed gangs would be too much for many (like me) to endure.
The book is honest. She had many heartbreaks and hardships and nothing is glossed over. The book was inspiring and at times difficult to process emotionally. It is a important to learn about people such as Hawa Abdi.
Rival gang lords wanted to control everything in Somalia including her hospital. It was not seemly for a woman to own important property even though she had built it herself, kept the patients alive herself through widespread starvation and disease. Her ongoing conflicts with ungoverned armed gangs would be too much for many (like me) to endure.
The book is honest. She had many heartbreaks and hardships and nothing is glossed over. The book was inspiring and at times difficult to process emotionally. It is a important to learn about people such as Hawa Abdi.
August 10, 2016
A friend summed it up perfectly in her review of this book: "If you've ever questioned the ability of one person to make a difference, read this book!"
Not only is Dr. Hawa doing amazing things, but she's doing them while facing challenges that would break anyone else down. She is bigger than a cause, government, or organization. She IS a difference maker.
The history of Somalia is incredible on its own. You add in this citizen who loves her people so much that she has devoted her life to serve them, and her story becomes heroic on so many levels.
The next time someone poses that hypothetical question to me: "If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be?" My response would be "Dr. Hawa" in an instant. She is a faith-filled woman living with confidence and purpose. I'm now left waking up each morning determined to make this world a better place because she has. Fantastic, valuable read.
Not only is Dr. Hawa doing amazing things, but she's doing them while facing challenges that would break anyone else down. She is bigger than a cause, government, or organization. She IS a difference maker.
The history of Somalia is incredible on its own. You add in this citizen who loves her people so much that she has devoted her life to serve them, and her story becomes heroic on so many levels.
The next time someone poses that hypothetical question to me: "If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be?" My response would be "Dr. Hawa" in an instant. She is a faith-filled woman living with confidence and purpose. I'm now left waking up each morning determined to make this world a better place because she has. Fantastic, valuable read.
April 25, 2013
I was excited to receive my first-reads copy a few weeks ago. I knew nothing about Somalia - I couldn't even point it out to you on a map (somewhere near Ghana?), so I couldn't wait to learn what this book had to offer.
The first thing you see is a quote by Glamour "[Dr. Abdi is] equal parts Mother Teresa and Rambo." I'll be completely honest - I couldn't help but give a small snort as I read the quote. The image it invoked was pretty absurd.
But somehow, I was able to get past the quote and dig right in. Mother Teresa, yes. Rambo? Thank goodness, no. No AK-47-toting saint here. Dr. Hawa Abdi is much cooler. This is a woman who has stood up to extremists intent on raping and killing all under her care. These were men with mania in their eyes and assault rifles in their hands. Not only did she stand up to them - she forced them to back down, with nothing but words, reason, and sheer determination.
This is one strong woman. And this is the story of how she and her daughters were able to create an oasis of peace for those in desperate need in a sea of violence, anarchy, and chaos. She seems to be one of the few people in the country who seems to have learned that the only way for Somalia to find peace in the modern world is to look above clan identities and for the Somali people to unite as a country - not as individual clans.
This book is not an easy read. If you're looking for a little light reading before you go to bed, look elsewhere. Somalia's history is not a happy one, at least not in the past 100 years or so. And more likely than not, after reading this book, you'll never be able to look at life the same, again. Truly a life-changer.
The first thing you see is a quote by Glamour "[Dr. Abdi is] equal parts Mother Teresa and Rambo." I'll be completely honest - I couldn't help but give a small snort as I read the quote. The image it invoked was pretty absurd.
But somehow, I was able to get past the quote and dig right in. Mother Teresa, yes. Rambo? Thank goodness, no. No AK-47-toting saint here. Dr. Hawa Abdi is much cooler. This is a woman who has stood up to extremists intent on raping and killing all under her care. These were men with mania in their eyes and assault rifles in their hands. Not only did she stand up to them - she forced them to back down, with nothing but words, reason, and sheer determination.
This is one strong woman. And this is the story of how she and her daughters were able to create an oasis of peace for those in desperate need in a sea of violence, anarchy, and chaos. She seems to be one of the few people in the country who seems to have learned that the only way for Somalia to find peace in the modern world is to look above clan identities and for the Somali people to unite as a country - not as individual clans.
This book is not an easy read. If you're looking for a little light reading before you go to bed, look elsewhere. Somalia's history is not a happy one, at least not in the past 100 years or so. And more likely than not, after reading this book, you'll never be able to look at life the same, again. Truly a life-changer.
December 12, 2013
I happened to see her book advertised on her foundation's website, which I researched after reading A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindout.
This story comes to me as a women who did what she could with what she had. I am often discouraged by people that do such amazing acts as she does (how would I ever be able to accomplish anything relatively close), but her honesty of how things came to be diminishes that. Obviously though, she has great courage, endurance, education, and motivation.
She seems very genuine and stubborn. Her personality and determination to create a Somalia of peace and tradition echo through each story and trial she speaks of. In her honest words she seems to be blind to how strong and driven she is in opinions and actions, which makes me even more fond of her.
Quite honestly it is encouraging to hear a perspective from a devoted Muslim that is committed to harmony and love. As Americans we are bombarded with the Muslim fundamentalists' views and actions so that compassionate Muslims are overshadowed. To see how such young boys came to power paints a truer picture of what many African nations are struggling with.
Dr. Hawa Abdi is a great woman in many ways, and she reminds us of the true story of Somalia, both the past and present. Very compelling. I hope that many read this book and choose to be more active in the progress of Somalia, as well in the other nations that are in similar circumstances.
This story comes to me as a women who did what she could with what she had. I am often discouraged by people that do such amazing acts as she does (how would I ever be able to accomplish anything relatively close), but her honesty of how things came to be diminishes that. Obviously though, she has great courage, endurance, education, and motivation.
She seems very genuine and stubborn. Her personality and determination to create a Somalia of peace and tradition echo through each story and trial she speaks of. In her honest words she seems to be blind to how strong and driven she is in opinions and actions, which makes me even more fond of her.
Quite honestly it is encouraging to hear a perspective from a devoted Muslim that is committed to harmony and love. As Americans we are bombarded with the Muslim fundamentalists' views and actions so that compassionate Muslims are overshadowed. To see how such young boys came to power paints a truer picture of what many African nations are struggling with.
Dr. Hawa Abdi is a great woman in many ways, and she reminds us of the true story of Somalia, both the past and present. Very compelling. I hope that many read this book and choose to be more active in the progress of Somalia, as well in the other nations that are in similar circumstances.
May 9, 2013
A great book and an even better story of an amazing woman, Hawa Abdi. She is an Ob/Gyn specialist born in Somalia. She went to medical school in the Soviet Union and then law school. She returns to Somalia to build and run a clinic to care for thousands of people in her war torn country. The clinic evolves into a working farm and a refugee camp which houses, treats and feeds up to 90,000 people at one time. Dr. Abdi has an incredible will and such great strength of character. She endured so many hardships in her lifetime and her example of doing good and doing the right thing is remarkable. I was consistenly amazed to read about her choices of staying neutral during conflict and saving and treating her patients as her highest priority, often at risk to herself and her family. I am in awe of Dr. Abdi and I'm so glad I read this book to learn of her story.
September 25, 2014
This is an amazing story of one woman/doctor/lawyer converting her farm outside of Mogadishu into a refugee camp. She did so during the most pivotal, deadly, and heartbreaking decades of Somalia's history. During those 20 years she raised 3 of her own children( while caring for thousands of others), governed the refugee camp (including over 90,000 people in that time period), treated thousands, and became an international symbol of hope to millions of displace Somalians around the world. It was very difficult to read this book at times as her life was not without much heartbreak. But the hope it inspires is well worth the read. And once again, I truly am amazed by the difference one person can make.
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October 1, 2019Well as a somali,being born in the mid 1990 and raised in neighboring country, all i thought was Somalia as chaos and backwardness but reading Hawa Abdi's Memoir taught me How great,beatiful and civilised Somalia was once... I had to admit i felt overwhelmed emotional reading this book, tires fell from my eyes like drop of rain fell. There is nothing i can express her Courage and Heroes. Hawa Abdi would always be our Hero and the legacy she left for us will always be there for the Generations to come.
July 30, 2019
Dr. Hawa Abdi is such a strong, determined, independent, and inspirational woman and this book does a great job of showing how she advocated for peace, reason, and love.
February 16, 2021
Born into a poor farmer family of Somalia, having witnessed her mother's death while giving birth to a baby, Hawa had decided on her mother's corpse to persue Medicine & know the cause of her mother's death.
She studied medicine at Soviet Union & became Somalian first lady gynecologist.
~~~
Hawa in this book recounts politically turmoiled , war proned & hunger struck vulnerable history of Somalia along with her personal life.
Inclined towards the sweet smell & fresh breeze of rural mud & landscape , leaving behind a city life Hawa buys a small piece of land at Afgoye ( a rural area near Mogadishu) - builds house & lives with her family. But never did she had ever dreamt that single chunk of land would spread to thousand acres of refugee camp providing home to hapless & feed countless starving mouths.
~~~
She laments when Somalia wages war on Soveit Union which is Hawa's second home mourning her Russian brothers fighting in the frontline. A single rupture between leaves sparks a wildfire swallowing away the whole dense forest! In the same way, that single defeat in war with Soveit Union had its menacing repurcussions in Somalia leading to clash between the country's clans & then sub-clans. I was wondered reading the country vacillating continuously between one crisis to other & passing the baton of gruesome dominance from one militia group to the other throwing & crushing the people nose deep suppressing their muffled voices.
~~~
Survivors of bomb blasts & mortor shell attacks dizzying & bleeding go straight to Hawa's clinic. For hundreds of displaced families who are at the verge of losing lives Hawa's camp welcomes like a mother extending her arms & carresing into a warm hug; and so she is dearly called 'Mama Hawa' by them. She is never rich to sufficiently supply refugees ; there is a relentless & selfless farmer on other side of the coin who effortlessly cultivates day & night to meet the ends of the camp. Eventually the whole area of camp is turned out to be 'Hawa Abdi village'.
~~~
The nightmares of militia combats at her camp never shuddered her out; the criminal & cruel opposition of food & supplements from international organisations by local troops never ceased to find its way to her; the point blank gun aimed on never shattered her; quakes & shocks in marital & personal lives never let her slip into those cracks. Threats & warnings from militias never prevented from showering accolades & awards.
~~~
Let the system's foundation be fragile, Hawa's fundamentals isn't;
Let the draught is dreading the nation, Hawa's determination isn't;
Let the country is clamouring with war crises, Hawa's conviction isn't;
~~~
Hawa Abdi, a doctor , a lawyer , a farmer , an activist- besides all a great humanitarian is an embodiment of empathy & sympathy. 'Empathy' could very well be a small word to label the services & sacrifices she has done.
Hawa Abdi village is a sanctuary full of trees with wide branches on which 'refugee' birds perch & seek shelter.
In the ongoing war alarms of the country, though Hawa isn't physically present, I hope her belief in peace , patience & prayers that were descended from her keeping her people's hope alive.
She studied medicine at Soviet Union & became Somalian first lady gynecologist.
~~~
Hawa in this book recounts politically turmoiled , war proned & hunger struck vulnerable history of Somalia along with her personal life.
Inclined towards the sweet smell & fresh breeze of rural mud & landscape , leaving behind a city life Hawa buys a small piece of land at Afgoye ( a rural area near Mogadishu) - builds house & lives with her family. But never did she had ever dreamt that single chunk of land would spread to thousand acres of refugee camp providing home to hapless & feed countless starving mouths.
~~~
She laments when Somalia wages war on Soveit Union which is Hawa's second home mourning her Russian brothers fighting in the frontline. A single rupture between leaves sparks a wildfire swallowing away the whole dense forest! In the same way, that single defeat in war with Soveit Union had its menacing repurcussions in Somalia leading to clash between the country's clans & then sub-clans. I was wondered reading the country vacillating continuously between one crisis to other & passing the baton of gruesome dominance from one militia group to the other throwing & crushing the people nose deep suppressing their muffled voices.
~~~
Survivors of bomb blasts & mortor shell attacks dizzying & bleeding go straight to Hawa's clinic. For hundreds of displaced families who are at the verge of losing lives Hawa's camp welcomes like a mother extending her arms & carresing into a warm hug; and so she is dearly called 'Mama Hawa' by them. She is never rich to sufficiently supply refugees ; there is a relentless & selfless farmer on other side of the coin who effortlessly cultivates day & night to meet the ends of the camp. Eventually the whole area of camp is turned out to be 'Hawa Abdi village'.
~~~
The nightmares of militia combats at her camp never shuddered her out; the criminal & cruel opposition of food & supplements from international organisations by local troops never ceased to find its way to her; the point blank gun aimed on never shattered her; quakes & shocks in marital & personal lives never let her slip into those cracks. Threats & warnings from militias never prevented from showering accolades & awards.
~~~
Let the system's foundation be fragile, Hawa's fundamentals isn't;
Let the draught is dreading the nation, Hawa's determination isn't;
Let the country is clamouring with war crises, Hawa's conviction isn't;
~~~
Hawa Abdi, a doctor , a lawyer , a farmer , an activist- besides all a great humanitarian is an embodiment of empathy & sympathy. 'Empathy' could very well be a small word to label the services & sacrifices she has done.
Hawa Abdi village is a sanctuary full of trees with wide branches on which 'refugee' birds perch & seek shelter.
In the ongoing war alarms of the country, though Hawa isn't physically present, I hope her belief in peace , patience & prayers that were descended from her keeping her people's hope alive.
March 15, 2014
I had the pleasure of meeting Dr Hawa in person and getting her to sign my book before I had even read the book. Now I've finally had the chance to read it and have even more respect and love for her and her daughters. As a future physician, there are many aspects about her professional life and philosophies around medicine that id like to emulate. I learned a lot about Somali culture and about the history of Somalia which really helped gain better understanding of the political situation there. Dr Hawa's sharp wit in response to the people who opposed her had me laughing out loud. I also found really interesting the intertwining/juxtaposition within Hawa of the progressive feminist and the traditional Somali woman.
June 2, 2013
Dr. Hawa Abdi is a remarkable hero - just not much of a writer.
July 27, 2014
God Bless You Dr. Hawa Abdi
April 11, 2021
Kniha šokuje, otevře vám oči a z nepatrné části pochopite co se dělo a děje v Somálsku a hlavně nahlédnete do životů obyčejných lidí.. Lékařka je oddaná svému poslání pomoci lidem ve své zemi, smekám před ní a jako budoucí kolegyně na putování její těžkou životní cestou nikdy nezapomenu. Respekt!
August 17, 2015
***4.65 out of 5***
Why did I?
There are too many people on this earth who live (if just barely) without hope. Just reading the title caught my eye, while the actual story gripped me like a beating heart stuck in a vice.
Why should you?
Because... by the time you get done reading this book, you will be as speechless as me. In tears, even. What else can I say?
It's unthinkable, what happened in Somalia--what's still happening there--what evil exists in their world, this world. Yet, if we truly want to make a change, we must be willing to think, to understand, to know--we cannot sweep real life under the rug, brushing unimaginable pain away from our own civilized lives. Reading a book like Keeping Hope Alive will transform you from the inside out. Much like traveling to a place like Cambodia did for my wife and me, reading a book about a country torn apart by civil war and clan warfare gives necessary perspective. It's like standing atop a mountain and looking down at your problems. Suddenly the stress from your job seems insignificant, the squabble you had at home seems meaningless, and the inevitable encircling anxiety of our human stress sensors becomes unwarranted.
Dr. Hawa Abdi, and so many around her, have lived through it all, and despite their bleak state of affairs they manage to cling to hope in a world void of all such goodness.
Demanding - 4.8 stars
Hawa Abdi, doctor, lawyer, mother, and saint, demands more from her life than any I have known or read about. And her book is no different--it demands that we expect the best in people no matter how many times we've seen the worst.
I couldn't stop thinking, questioning a lifetime of actions. If you tell me something, I will trust 100 percent. I don't doubt that something you say will happen will actually happen; I don't question your character. If you tell me something is black, I will tell you it's black, for a thousand years. If you tell me it's white, it's white. I expect that people will do what they say, and for too long I even had an expectation that people could act a certain way in return for what I gave. There is a Somali saying that each human being is like the bush. If you go inside, you can meet snakes, lizards, and other harmful things--things you would never expect. My rational side could not live with the truth of such evil, such deceit. (p. 220)
Dr. Abdi is not naive, she simply contains a bottomless heart of hope and trust for humanity.
Inspiring - 5 stars
The most equally humbling, depressing, and inspiring story I have read, true or otherwise. Sarah J. Robbins, the journalist who helps Dr. Abdi tell her story to the world, does so with poignancy and clarity, both moving and informing an uninformed populace. There is no other way to witness fire burning without oxygen than by hearing about hope inside of a world of starvation, backstabbing, murder, and injustice.
And what about humbling? Well, in the words of Hawa Abdi, "Somalia is waiting for you. Let's die together, fighting to rebuild our country" (p. 226). How many people do you know who would sacrifice their life for their country? Would you? Would I?
Compelling - 4.7 stars
227 pages of a world I could have never believed existed--not really--not like I saw inside Keeping Hope Alive. I read on, page after page, opening my eyes to something I had never seen before, despite researching and writing my own semi-nonfiction novel about an auto-genocide.
Just like every tragedy is different, each person's response to tragedy is unique and special, and yet Dr. Abdi's blend of Hope must be one of the rarest cups of suffering to grace this planet. With her life's work and story, Hawa Abdi has graced us with her experience and wisdom--and most importantly with her sincere belief in peace.
Entertaining - 4.1 stars
For inspiring both tears of sorrow and joy, Keeping Hope Alive manages to somehow be entertaining, though that word can never come close to the complexity contained within this book's covers, and surely not the spiderweb of tragedy existing inside of Somalia.
Overall - 4.65 out of 5 stars
For the book that leaves me speechless, mute to the atrocities, unable to respond, I give my wholehearted recommendation. For the message of peace and gratefulness that Dr. Abdi speaks and lives, I would give my whole heart.
To conclude, a song from the book:
We have to bless the people who are giving us this food. We are grateful that they came and knocked on our door, brought food to our home, cared for us. We have to understand, to be honest. In the future, there will be peace. Amen, Amen. (p. 180)
For the sake of life, peace, and hope, please make time for Keeping Hope Alive. And, to contribute to Dr. Abdi's foundation and to human rights in Somalia visit dhaf.org.
Please visit jaredpangier.com for more reviews on story, information about Cambodia, and the upcoming novel Life is Fragile: A True Khmer Tale.
Original review location: http://jaredpangier.com/keeping-hope-alive-a-book-review/
Why did I?
There are too many people on this earth who live (if just barely) without hope. Just reading the title caught my eye, while the actual story gripped me like a beating heart stuck in a vice.
Why should you?
Because... by the time you get done reading this book, you will be as speechless as me. In tears, even. What else can I say?
It's unthinkable, what happened in Somalia--what's still happening there--what evil exists in their world, this world. Yet, if we truly want to make a change, we must be willing to think, to understand, to know--we cannot sweep real life under the rug, brushing unimaginable pain away from our own civilized lives. Reading a book like Keeping Hope Alive will transform you from the inside out. Much like traveling to a place like Cambodia did for my wife and me, reading a book about a country torn apart by civil war and clan warfare gives necessary perspective. It's like standing atop a mountain and looking down at your problems. Suddenly the stress from your job seems insignificant, the squabble you had at home seems meaningless, and the inevitable encircling anxiety of our human stress sensors becomes unwarranted.
Dr. Hawa Abdi, and so many around her, have lived through it all, and despite their bleak state of affairs they manage to cling to hope in a world void of all such goodness.
Demanding - 4.8 stars
Hawa Abdi, doctor, lawyer, mother, and saint, demands more from her life than any I have known or read about. And her book is no different--it demands that we expect the best in people no matter how many times we've seen the worst.
I couldn't stop thinking, questioning a lifetime of actions. If you tell me something, I will trust 100 percent. I don't doubt that something you say will happen will actually happen; I don't question your character. If you tell me something is black, I will tell you it's black, for a thousand years. If you tell me it's white, it's white. I expect that people will do what they say, and for too long I even had an expectation that people could act a certain way in return for what I gave. There is a Somali saying that each human being is like the bush. If you go inside, you can meet snakes, lizards, and other harmful things--things you would never expect. My rational side could not live with the truth of such evil, such deceit. (p. 220)
Dr. Abdi is not naive, she simply contains a bottomless heart of hope and trust for humanity.
Inspiring - 5 stars
The most equally humbling, depressing, and inspiring story I have read, true or otherwise. Sarah J. Robbins, the journalist who helps Dr. Abdi tell her story to the world, does so with poignancy and clarity, both moving and informing an uninformed populace. There is no other way to witness fire burning without oxygen than by hearing about hope inside of a world of starvation, backstabbing, murder, and injustice.
And what about humbling? Well, in the words of Hawa Abdi, "Somalia is waiting for you. Let's die together, fighting to rebuild our country" (p. 226). How many people do you know who would sacrifice their life for their country? Would you? Would I?
Compelling - 4.7 stars
227 pages of a world I could have never believed existed--not really--not like I saw inside Keeping Hope Alive. I read on, page after page, opening my eyes to something I had never seen before, despite researching and writing my own semi-nonfiction novel about an auto-genocide.
Just like every tragedy is different, each person's response to tragedy is unique and special, and yet Dr. Abdi's blend of Hope must be one of the rarest cups of suffering to grace this planet. With her life's work and story, Hawa Abdi has graced us with her experience and wisdom--and most importantly with her sincere belief in peace.
Entertaining - 4.1 stars
For inspiring both tears of sorrow and joy, Keeping Hope Alive manages to somehow be entertaining, though that word can never come close to the complexity contained within this book's covers, and surely not the spiderweb of tragedy existing inside of Somalia.
Overall - 4.65 out of 5 stars
For the book that leaves me speechless, mute to the atrocities, unable to respond, I give my wholehearted recommendation. For the message of peace and gratefulness that Dr. Abdi speaks and lives, I would give my whole heart.
To conclude, a song from the book:
We have to bless the people who are giving us this food. We are grateful that they came and knocked on our door, brought food to our home, cared for us. We have to understand, to be honest. In the future, there will be peace. Amen, Amen. (p. 180)
For the sake of life, peace, and hope, please make time for Keeping Hope Alive. And, to contribute to Dr. Abdi's foundation and to human rights in Somalia visit dhaf.org.
Please visit jaredpangier.com for more reviews on story, information about Cambodia, and the upcoming novel Life is Fragile: A True Khmer Tale.
Original review location: http://jaredpangier.com/keeping-hope-alive-a-book-review/
March 30, 2023
Dr. Hawa Abdi has been recognized for her work in taking in and helping refugees when her country was war-torn and under drought. She is from Somalia. I found her book to be very interesting because I knew little about Somalia. She was educated in The Soviet Union. After becoming a doctor, she bought land and began to farm so that her family would have fresh, healthy food. She was quite successful, both as a doctor and a farmer. Then she was treating people in her home on the farm and eventually built a hospital there. After the country began to have political unrest and drought she allowed people to live on her land and she fed them. Foreign aid organizations would help her by supplying food and also later with medicine and doctors. She was never afraid of the different clans, groups such as al-Shabob. They respected her and generally left her alone.
July 10, 2019
This was an interesting read, although I felt at times the writing was a on the amateur side, while at other times, there are so many names of officials that it was difficult to follow, especially if (like many people), I have not followed the trials and tribulations of the people of Somalia closely. But overall a powerful book, written by Dr. Hawa Abdi, sometimes called the "Mother Theresa" of Somalia. She grew up in pre civil war Somalia, which appeared to be a country of great beauty, pride, tradition, but also led by powerful clans, and eventually this country erupted into civil war, which continues until this day. Dr. Abdi received her medical education in the Soviet Union, returned to her country, and eventually opened a clinic, which was first devoted to maternal and child needs, and eventually which became a hospital . As the civil war raged on, the land that she owned was filled with 90,000 refugees.......displaced within their own country, and at the mercy of various violent factions. Violence, starvation, death, is the common thread throughout this book. She discusses female circumcision which makes it very difficult for women to give birth, and how she tried to have this horrendous mutilation stopped. All the while she lives a rather difficult personal life, losing her only son, and her husband also left her for another wife. Certainly it appears that she spent much of her waking hours attending to the needs of her hospital, her refugee camp, and her family. Both her daughters became doctors, one became a refugee and gained US Citizenship. Dr. Abdi stayed in her country despite medical issues, and despite the fact that she could have probably immigrated to another country. I don't know how she withstood the years of violence which were still continuing in 2013 and continue to this day. Against incredible odds she just kept on going, and shows the courage, compassion and determination to help her fellow citizens. Although I don't think peace in Somalia will be seen in her life time, or that this country will ever return to its former glory, it is an interesting read about the struggles in a country about which so many of us are unaware.
May 13, 2013
Hawa Abdi is one of the most amazing people in the world. She has the Mandela gene in buckets. In 1991 when things fell apart in Somali Abdi was there, a newly qualified doctor trying to make a small difference. How she chose to respond to the catastrophe in her country positively affected hundreds of thousands of Somalis.
A refugee camp sprung up around a small hospital Abdi had created outside Mogadishu and at its height there were hundreds of thousands of people living on her land, looked after, fed and protected by her, and loyal to her. Abdi would not engage in the clan warfare in Somali, always preaching that people should be united by their Somali-ness rather than separated by their clan divisions.
Abdi got international recognition for what she was doing, and used this to increase the international help available to the people she was looking after. At great personal risk, to herself and her family, Abdi hung in there, believing in Somali and in its future.
To do this in a civil war is amazing. To do this as an African woman in a civil war with religious (Muslim) overtones is simply astounding. Abdi was captured and a lot of what she had established was destroyed at one stage simply because she was a woman and would not let the feuding warlords tell her what to do.
The sadness of Somalia is a character all of its own in this book; Somalia and all other countries ripped apart by this kind of senseless violence. Then all the journalists and other international participants in the situation in Somalia dash out of Somalia to report on the Rwandan situation, the hopelessness of the situation globally is almost overwhelming.
Hawa Abdi finally had to leave Somalia and despairingly, despite all the years and all the efforts, Somalia is still a mess. An entire generation of children has been born into a war-torn country. What hope do these countries have when their future leaders are ex-child soldiers and victims of awfulness?
A valuable book worth reading.
Read
February 3, 2014Keeping Hope Alive: One woman, 90,000 Lives Changed, by Hawa Abdi, with Sarah J. Robbins, Narrated by Robin Miles, Produced by Hachette Audio, Downloaded from audible.com.
In Somalia, Dr. Hawa Abdi, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, is the founder of a massive camp for internally displaced people located a few miles from war-torn Mogadishu, Somalia. Since 1991, when the Somali government collapsed, famine struck, and aid groups fled, she has dedicated
herself to providing help for people whose lives have been shattered by violence and poverty. She turned her 1,300 acres of farmland into a camp that has
numbered up to 90,000 displaced people, ignoring the clan lines that have often served to divide the country. She inspired her daughters, Deqo and Amina,
to become doctors. Together, they have saved tens of thousands of lives in her hospital, while providing an education to hundreds of displaced children.
In 2010, Dr. Abdi was kidnapped by radical insurgents, who also destroyed much of her hospital, simply because she was a woman. She, along with media pressure,
convinced the rebels to let her go, and she demanded and received a written apology. Dr. Abdi's story of incomprehensible perseverance, where she admits that the same clans and the same destruction are active in Somalia as were there when she started 20 years ago, where clans are likely to attack and try to take over the hospital to close it down and remove any money or medications, where she could be harmed or killed or at least kidnapped at any time simply because she is a woman, fills me with admiration. Whenever she seems likely to give up, her daughters, just as dedicated as she, come forward to bolster her continuing efforts. And she is over 70 now. An awe-inspiring book.
In Somalia, Dr. Hawa Abdi, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, is the founder of a massive camp for internally displaced people located a few miles from war-torn Mogadishu, Somalia. Since 1991, when the Somali government collapsed, famine struck, and aid groups fled, she has dedicated
herself to providing help for people whose lives have been shattered by violence and poverty. She turned her 1,300 acres of farmland into a camp that has
numbered up to 90,000 displaced people, ignoring the clan lines that have often served to divide the country. She inspired her daughters, Deqo and Amina,
to become doctors. Together, they have saved tens of thousands of lives in her hospital, while providing an education to hundreds of displaced children.
In 2010, Dr. Abdi was kidnapped by radical insurgents, who also destroyed much of her hospital, simply because she was a woman. She, along with media pressure,
convinced the rebels to let her go, and she demanded and received a written apology. Dr. Abdi's story of incomprehensible perseverance, where she admits that the same clans and the same destruction are active in Somalia as were there when she started 20 years ago, where clans are likely to attack and try to take over the hospital to close it down and remove any money or medications, where she could be harmed or killed or at least kidnapped at any time simply because she is a woman, fills me with admiration. Whenever she seems likely to give up, her daughters, just as dedicated as she, come forward to bolster her continuing efforts. And she is over 70 now. An awe-inspiring book.
March 17, 2014
A student worker where I work is from Somalia and was reading Keeping Hope Alive. Of course Somalia has been in the news for so many difficult reasons...drought, war, famine, to name a few. I have been unaware of Dr. Hawa Abdi's many contributions to her country throughout these many unpleasant events. She lost her mother at age twelve, was married and lost a child in the next two years.
She is a physician trained in the Soviet Union. When she returned to her homeland she and her husband, Aden, began by buying 1300 acres of farmland. This investment has been salvation for hundreds of people who have found refuge in this area of trees, crops, and most of all, security and hope. Dr. Abdi has taken in and cared for thousands without concern for their original tribal origin. She has insisted that those who live on her land live in peace, an extraordinarily difficult request for those at war.
The incredible stories of the collapse of governments, systems of food distribution, medical supplies and help, people's bodies shattered and devastated by starvation and war...it is a tale I urge others to read.
Throughout all of this Dr. Abdi has met many international aid workers from Doctors Without Borders, other relief organizations from Switzerland, and many, many other places. They are aware of what an incredible resource she and her two daughters have become. They were honored by Glamour magazine as the 2010 Women of the Year and she has been a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee.
It has been so difficult to read about the extraordinary privations faced and an incredible inspiration to read about her devotion as well as her strength.
She is a physician trained in the Soviet Union. When she returned to her homeland she and her husband, Aden, began by buying 1300 acres of farmland. This investment has been salvation for hundreds of people who have found refuge in this area of trees, crops, and most of all, security and hope. Dr. Abdi has taken in and cared for thousands without concern for their original tribal origin. She has insisted that those who live on her land live in peace, an extraordinarily difficult request for those at war.
The incredible stories of the collapse of governments, systems of food distribution, medical supplies and help, people's bodies shattered and devastated by starvation and war...it is a tale I urge others to read.
Throughout all of this Dr. Abdi has met many international aid workers from Doctors Without Borders, other relief organizations from Switzerland, and many, many other places. They are aware of what an incredible resource she and her two daughters have become. They were honored by Glamour magazine as the 2010 Women of the Year and she has been a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee.
It has been so difficult to read about the extraordinary privations faced and an incredible inspiration to read about her devotion as well as her strength.
July 25, 2018
It was an amazing story of an exceptional woman in Somalia. One of the few women doctors in Somalia educated in former Soviet Union, Hawa Abdi tells about her professional and personal life, not forgetting the bigger picture: what is going on in her country and how it fits in the global context. First and foremost, she is a doctor taking care of patients of all ages and tribal affiliations. Her rule to be admitted to her settlement and clinic is "you have to live in peace there, no clan or tribal fights". She also works with a number of foreign aid agencies, and when time comes, she is not shy to speak up for the good of her country and society, condemning violence and tribal wars, and standing up to warlords and religious zealots who are hiding their thirst for power behind religious principles.
The book was easy to read, the language was crisp and clear, no frills. Keeping Hope Alive was a double treat to me, because I enjoy reading memoirs and also learning about other cultures and places. Now I feel I have a good idea of what life in Somalia is like, and although living is tough in the current lawless society there, people like Hawa Abdi bring hope to the people and change their lives for better.
The book was easy to read, the language was crisp and clear, no frills. Keeping Hope Alive was a double treat to me, because I enjoy reading memoirs and also learning about other cultures and places. Now I feel I have a good idea of what life in Somalia is like, and although living is tough in the current lawless society there, people like Hawa Abdi bring hope to the people and change their lives for better.
May 18, 2018
The journalist co-author's voice is non-existent and allows Dr. Hawa's voice and story to shine through in a very readable way. Abdi's story is told in an honest, transparent way that doesn't try to hide her mistakes through the course of her life. I appreciated that though a broad 70 years of Somali history is told through Hawa Abdi's life, events are related in a way that is focused. There are a couple of times that something is related out of chronological order, such as the heartbreaking time of Abdi's first marriage and child. There are a lot of hard topics covered - gruesome deaths, operations, female mutilation, etc. I felt like this book gave me a better grasp of the recent history of Somalia's civil war, the connection of Al-Shabab and Al-Qaeda. A good follow-up read to City of Thorns - or a standalone autobiography for anyone interested in refugees and world crises. I think the "90,000 lives changed" subtile is an understatement of the impact of Hawa Abdi's life and the mission she has inspired in her family and hospital teams.
March 3, 2014
A very good autobiography of a woman who really had a remarkable life and did something remarkable with it. Married at 12, divorced by 14, she becomes a doctor and then a lawyer. She uses her means to save many many people when her country goes into a complicated civil war and eventually helps rewrite the countries constitution.
The write is simple, straight forward and has the effect of seeming like a person speaking a foreign language to me. She has another writer on this book so i am not sure why the writing is not more sophisticated. Perhaps it was a decision to keep the writing close to the original. For me it was a bit off putting after a while. I have no other complaints.
The write is simple, straight forward and has the effect of seeming like a person speaking a foreign language to me. She has another writer on this book so i am not sure why the writing is not more sophisticated. Perhaps it was a decision to keep the writing close to the original. For me it was a bit off putting after a while. I have no other complaints.
March 30, 2018
An easy read about a fascinating and heroic woman. I must admit that I have never heard of her before, or might not have taken notice when the name flashed across my horizons. Running a hospital and refugee camp in Somalia in the face of life-threatening conditions, first against warring clans and later against radical Muslim militants, demands heaps of courage. In my opinion, without doubt another African Woman of Substance, and sadly, while having been the recipient of many International Awards for the sterling work undertaken by herself and her team, I cannot find any evidence of recognition from either the African Union or its predecessor, the Organisation for African Unity.
March 18, 2017
I knew very little about Somalia before reading this book and this book gives the perspective of the country from a women who remains neutral in conflict. This books tells the story of a strong women who continues to work as a doctor, take in tens of thousands of people, while watching her country be taken over by hate.
The strength of Dr. Hawa is inspirational and it is through people like her Somali can be rebuilt.
The strength of Dr. Hawa is inspirational and it is through people like her Somali can be rebuilt.
July 20, 2018
Another true story of a woman doctor in Rwanda during the genocide. Her courage to stand up to the clan and tribal terrorists, to open her doors to the homeless, to treat the enemy. Another unsung hero of this century. Her work ought to be more widely lauded. It made me think that there are probably more like her, trying to survive the stupidity of civil wars while reaching out to others, regardless of her own risk.
February 17, 2014
This is a powerful autobiography/memoir about a Somali woman who wouldn't let the circumstances bring her down. She always saw the best in people and society no matter what happened. This is a great challenge to all of us and a great reminder of the journey our Somali neighbors have traveled to us.
August 26, 2014
[Somalia from the 50s until present day]
Fascinating story of humanitarian doctor Hawa Abdi and her love for her homeland, Somalia. Her story paints a wide stroke through Somalia's colonial, post-colonial, and civil war history. The description of Muslim life also added an interesting contrast to that experienced by the author of Infidel.
Fascinating story of humanitarian doctor Hawa Abdi and her love for her homeland, Somalia. Her story paints a wide stroke through Somalia's colonial, post-colonial, and civil war history. The description of Muslim life also added an interesting contrast to that experienced by the author of Infidel.
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