Somalia Country Profile
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Halima was just nineteen and already the mother of two children.  Her marriage had been arranged when she was thirteen to a man ten years her senior.  In this culture marriage is primarily about survival.  Love is a luxury.

Though Halima had no education and was not literate even in her own language, being nineteen and married meant that she missed the cut-off for receiving the benefits of an American high school education.  She would have to look for a job that didn’t require a high school diploma.  With limited English skills, no experience, no ability to read, and no understanding of the expectations of an American employer, the task of finding employment was nearly impossible.  Halima’s husband was able to find a low paying part time job, but to complicate matters, after a few months, Halima discovered she was pregnant.

On May 29^th 2004, baby Rick Jabril Musa was born and named for Rick Guzman, TRAF’s Co-founder.  This new American citizen was welcomed warmly into the family, but sadly, a few months later Halima’s husband quit his job and abandoned the family, leaving them with no support.  Now Halima was a single mother of three with no job and no prospects.

TRAF stepped in to help Halima pay the rent when she was on the brink of eviction. We also assisted with the cost of diapers, formula, medicine, and other basic needs.  Halima went through a time of hopelessness and depression.  She thought about moving to another state or marrying another man just to get her rent paid.  But the help TRAF offered got her through until she could see a better way.   

Today Halima is living in a subsidized housing facility and is working at a factory.  Life is still hard, but Halima is making it.  And TRAF will be there to assist again if she needs an extra helping hand on the road to self-sufficiency.