When Stars Are Scattered
An Interview with Omar Mohamed, co-author of When Stars Are Scattered & founder of Refugee Strong
FLL: What was the process of writing and publishing this book like?
Omar Mohamed: This was the part that I was not familiar with, and Vicki [co-author Victoria Jamieson] guided me through this process.
I had a rough draft that I shared with Vicki, and she was able to read it first. After that, we met now and then to go over and answer Vicki's questions for me.
If readers walk away with just one message after reading your book, what would you like it to be?
It would be that no one chooses to be a refugee.
A question submitted by Conestoga Valley High School Student, Sara: As the child of an Ethiopian refugee, it made me extremely emotional to read your story and view my Baba in a similar situation as you. How will you approach explaining your trauma and hardships to your children?
That is tough to explain, but I want them to find out the challenges that I have had to overcome to be where I am today. I will help them use it as a lesson for them, so they never give up and lose hope.
What are some of the needs of people living in the refugee camps, and how does your organization, Refugee Strong, help to satisfy those needs?
The needs are so many. We are doing everything we can to help all.
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What is Refugee Strong?
Refugee Strong is a nonprofit organization committed to empowering refugee communities by providing support and hope through education. Our biggest initiative at the moment is the construction of the first library in Dadaab, Kenya. The physical building is being finished up this month, and then we'll be working to fill it with study materials and resources for the students. Before this, there were up to 80 students in a classroom, typically four to a desk, sharing two textbooks among the 80 students. Many had one notebook to write in for every subject in their school day, and that notebook had to last the whole school year. Without a textbook, students rely on these notes to study.
We've also provided solar lamps for students so that they can study after the school day and their chores at home. Refugee Strong aims to house more textbooks, study materials, and school supplies in this safe library environment, so that students are able to have access to resources and improve their education.
We've also prioritized the education of girls who have historically faced many hurdles to completing their schooling. Last year, we provided reusable menstrual kits to every high school senior girl and installed latrines solely for their use in order to keep them in school while they are menstruating, instead of missing that week entirely each month. This year, we're hoping to expand that service to every secondary female student in Dadaab—and it looks as though we'll be on track to do so.
We also plan to offer a scholarship for one student to attend college next year and another to attend a private high school that provides a more complete and regulated education, and will continue to do this each year.
We take on a few other projects each year, like providing food to families because they do not receive enough to last before the next ration is delivered. This year, we were able to feed 120 families (up from 60 last year). While this is not directly related to student education, it does fulfill one basic need for survival, so that students can focus wholeheartedly on their learning, instead of their hunger or family concerns.
We even have two kids raising funds right now (after reading When Stars Are Scattered) to supply kids in the camp with play equipment like soccer balls, volleyballs, basketballs, etc. because they realized how highly we praise play and fun as children here in the U.S., and how kiddos in Dadaab often have nothing like that to enjoy their childhood. One of them wrote to us that "everyone deserves to play."
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