Somalia's first female mechanic is changing stereotypes one vehicle at a time
Nasra pictured fixing a car with her colleague. Photo: Nasra Haji Hussein/ Twitter
Photo: Nasra Haji Hussein/ Twitter
Although the Hiran native did not leave her parents home about 300 kilometers from Somalia’s capital with the intention of being a mechanic, she still went for it and was met with taunts and discouraging words from society.
Hussein did not let that hold her back and even though customers were hesitant to trust her with their vehicles, she was able to slowly build a customer base and got a steady stream of income in a country where the rate of unemployment is high.
Somali youth are struggling to find their feet in a country riddled with economic and security challenges even as the country rebuilds itself. Getting a decent education and then a job after is a herculean task for so manySomali youths.
Hussein the mechanic has a new skill to the extent that she can fix different types of cars which is an added advantage regardless of the mockery and confinements that came with venturing into the new field of work.
"I repair different types of cars,luxury cars, bulletproof cars and pickups. Sometimes I service trucks when they are brought to the garage,” Husseinsaid.
Looking for a faster way to get a message across to the youth? Then social media is your answer. That is exactly what Hussein did; she shared her experience with others onsocial mediaand encouraged them to grab whatever opportunity comes their way. Her family’s support also made her feel at ease and continue to thrive in her newfound profession.
"When I came to the city I wasn’t encouraged, no one offered me a job, so I decided to become a mechanic to help my family. When I got paid and sent money to my parents, my father asked me where I got the money from, and I told him that I am a mechanic. He encouraged me to work harder,” shewrote.
Hussein did not let gender stereotypes keep her unemployed which would have only stifled her newly acquired skill, prevented her from fending for herself and her family as well. She saw the silver lining in her predicament and went for it like we should all do at a point in time of our lives.
Somalia's first female mechanic is changing stereotypes one vehicle at a time
Society has put some constraints on individuals with regard to what men or women can do and that has prevented a lot of people from attaining their set goals in life for fear of being judged or ridiculed. Others also defied societal norms and restric