{"id":13466,"date":"2013-06-12T15:29:43","date_gmt":"2013-06-12T19:29:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/refugeeresearch.net\/rrndev\/somali-refugee-turns-new-life-in-australia-into-oam\/"},"modified":"2013-06-12T15:29:43","modified_gmt":"2013-06-12T19:29:43","slug":"somali-refugee-turns-new-life-in-australia-into-oam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/refugeeresearch.net\/es\/somali-refugee-turns-new-life-in-australia-into-oam\/","title":{"rendered":"Somali refugee turns new life in Australia into OAM"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
Somali refugee turns new life in Australia into OAM <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"Abdirahman<\/p>\n

Abdirahman Mohamud, a father of nine,runs a convenience store in Moorooka, but has also joined Australian peacekeepers in Somalia as a translator during Operation Solace. Photo: Michelle Smith<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Brisbane Times<\/span>
Monday, June 10, 2013<\/p>\n

Wearing a pinstriped suit, Abdirahman \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcAbdi\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Mohamud sits in a worn office chair talking frenetically on his mobile phone. <\/p>\n

About 12 minutes south of Brisbane\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s CBD, Mr Mohamud\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s convenience store is nestled on a sliver of Beaudesert Road, Moorooka, unofficially christened \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcAfrica town\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122.<\/p>\n

The kilometre of road here is a testament to the virtues of second chances.<\/p>\n

Surrounded by an eclectic mix of soaps, hair products, rugs, pressure cookers and clothes, Mr Mohumud welcomes visitors to his store with a broad grin, ushering them inside with the wave of a hand.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcCome, come,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 he says.<\/p>\n

When he realises this reporter is at his door he taps the leather seat beside him, while still talking in his mother tongue.<\/p>\n

As his phone conversation ends, Mr Mohumud slips off his brown sandals and crosses one leg over the other.<\/p>\n

The father of nine was born in the city of Baidoa, south-central Somalia.<\/p>\n

His beaming smile gives no clue to the horrors he witnessed in his home country – the horrors of seeing children starving in the streets, fearing at the same time he would not be able to feed his own sons and daughters.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcIt was the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dccity of death\u00e2\u20ac\u2122,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 he says.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcThe bones of the people were lying everywhere. There was the whole village, around 2000 to 3000 people, perished. It was heartbroken. Nobody can imagine.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcIt was genocide. It is beyond to comprehend what it was like.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

Before arriving in Australia, he was held captive by the Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, who was to gain world notoriety as the antagonist in the film Black Hawk Down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Abdirahman\u00bb I never find difficult being in Australia,\u00bb Abdirahman Mohamud says. Photo: Michelle Smith<\/em><\/font><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcI had started university when the civil war began and worked with the international community, including the Australian Defence Force, because I spoke English,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Mr Mohumud, 46, says.<\/p>\n

He joined 1000 Australian peacekeeping soliders as an interpreter. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Australians\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 deployment to Somalia under Operation Solace.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcAfter the United Nations left the warlord kidnapped me, but I was able to flee to Kenya,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Mr Mohumud says.<\/p>\n

After a year in a refugee camp, Mr Mohumud and his wife, Odpi, and their six children boarded a plane to Australia, courtesy of the Australian High Commission.<\/p>\n

The young family arrived in Brisbane on December 4, 1998.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcIt was like my birth date,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Mr Mohumud says.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcAustralia is the lucky country. The good thing about Australia is they have a culture that is open-minded to everyone, and they are good to hosting people.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

Mr Mohumud started driving a taxi the following year.<\/p>\n

Within six years, he had saved enough money to open his own business, and had another three children. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s now a grandfather.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcI never find difficult being in Australia,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 he says.<\/p>\n

His grin broadens when he speaks of daughters, Masra, 27, Amale, 23, Hani, 21, Kowther, 20, Adni, 12 and Arafo, 9, and his sons Abdima, 17, and Abdi, 16.<\/p>\n

They are completing degrees in medical engineering, business, psychology and international relations.<\/p>\n

However, other Somalian refugees have struggled to settle in their new home.<\/p>\n

Mr Mohumud explains grievances between tribes and communities have traversed oceans.<\/p>\n

He established the Somali Development Organisation to unite his community, while helping those in his home country.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcI decide to link them. I tell them the only thing to success in this country is unity,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 he says.<\/p>\n

He now acts as a translator for Somali refugees, helping them seek medical treatment, legal aid and financial assistance.<\/p>\n

He also teaches them the ways of the land.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcI put a lot of effort to explain to them Australia is a country for everyone, same rights for everyone,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 he says.<\/p>\n

While working with the troops, Mr Mohumud became familiar with the Australian sense of humour. He tries to explain this too to the new arrivals.<\/p>\n

And in the afternoons the small business owner is also a tutor, helping local children with their school homework.<\/p>\n

He believes in paying it forward, \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcbecause I witness the pain of the poor\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122.<\/p>\n

He sponsors families still living in Kenya\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Dadaab refugee camp.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcWe send a lot of money,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 he says.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcThen those families support more families.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

For his service to his community, Mr Mohumud has been awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcFrom July, I will include my name O.A.M,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 he says with a chuckle.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcI am so proud.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

http:\/\/hiiraan.com\/news4\/2013\/Jun\/29776\/somali_refugee_turns_new_life_in_australia_into_oam.aspx <\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Somali refugee turns new life in Australia into OAM Abdirahman Mohamud, a father of nine,runs a convenience store in Moorooka, but has also joined Australian peacekeepers in Somalia as a translator during Operation Solace. Photo: Michelle Smith   Brisbane TimesMonday, June 10, 2013 Wearing a pinstriped suit, Abdirahman \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcAbdi\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Mohamud sits in a worn office … Seguir leyendo Somali refugee turns new life in Australia into OAM<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blogs"],"yoast_head":"\nSomali refugee turns new life in Australia into OAM - (English) Refugee Research Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/refugeeresearch.net\/ar\/somali-refugee-turns-new-life-in-australia-into-oam\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_ES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Somali refugee turns new life in Australia into OAM - (English) Refugee Research Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Somali refugee turns new life in Australia into OAM Abdirahman Mohamud, a father of nine,runs a convenience store in Moorooka, but has also joined Australian peacekeepers in Somalia as a translator during Operation Solace. Photo: Michelle Smith   Brisbane TimesMonday, June 10, 2013 Wearing a pinstriped suit, Abdirahman \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcAbdi\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Mohamud sits in a worn office … Seguir leyendo Somali refugee turns new life in Australia into OAM →\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/refugeeresearch.net\/ar\/somali-refugee-turns-new-life-in-australia-into-oam\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"(English) Refugee Research Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/30614536012\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2013-06-12T19:29:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/images.brisbanetimes.com.au\/2013\/06\/09\/4476862\/1_1_somali_729-620x349.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"siraji\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@refugeeresearch\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@refugeeresearch\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Escrito por\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"siraji\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Tiempo de lectura\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutos\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/refugeeresearch.net\/ar\/somali-refugee-turns-new-life-in-australia-into-oam\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/refugeeresearch.net\/ar\/somali-refugee-turns-new-life-in-australia-into-oam\/\",\"name\":\"Somali refugee turns new life in Australia into OAM - 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