Nafyar learning English. Photo: CWS
Nafyar* was 12 when men from the Al-Shabab militia entered her hometown in Somalia, killing her parents and older siblings. Nafar survived by hiding until the militia left, and then a kind-hearted neighbor helped her escape to Kenya. After living in Kenya for two years, and after a long journey by ways of Malaysia, Nafyar arrived in Indonesia in late 2016, and has been followed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) since then. Now the 15-year-old lives with 18 other girls in a CWS-supported group home. “I’m really happy here because most of the girls are around my age and most are from Somalia as well,” Nafyar said when she moved into the home. She is particularly keen to learn English and attends classes every day, both in the group home and outside at a local school. Nafar’s dream is to be resettled to another country: “I want to live in America!” There she wants to go to school and become a journalist. “I miss my mom so much. But no matter what has happened, I always remain hopeful”.
*name changed for anonymity.