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Hawa Abdullahi is a principal of Dr. Abdalla Derow Primary School for Girls in Baidoa, Bay Region of South West State, Somalia. Photograph: Abdirahman Abdulle / Save the Children.

When I asked Asad about his dreams, his eyes lit up immediately.  He smiled and gave that look of enthusiasm, excitement and hope.  “I want to be a doctor,” he says.  “Yes. Now I know if I work hard, I can make it.”  This is a change in Asad. Some months ago, he wasn’t sure if he will continue with school, let alone dream of becoming a doctor. Asad, a third born in a family of eight is a fifth grade student at Al-Hikma Primary School.

Many of you might not have had the chance to interact with the soft-spoken and always smiling lady knows as Faisa.  With her petite frame, she can almost go unnoticed in the office but when you have a chance to interact with this charismatic woman, she commands your attention and that is what happened when I asked to interview her for our first article on the ‘parting shot’.

Sahara Hersi Malaw is 28 years mother of five children, three boys and two girls. Her family lives in Ceel dheere villages of Burao district, Somaliland. She stays at a very small Somali hut situated in the western part of the villages in a dry and barren land, which is isolated from other residents.