Garowe–(Puntland Mirror) Somali educator, women’s rights advocate, peace campaigner and humanitarian Hawa Aden Mohamed, widely known as “Hooyo Xaawo,” died in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday morning.
Born around 1949, Hawa Aden devoted much of her life to education, women’s empowerment, peacebuilding and supporting Somali communities, particularly those affected by conflict and displacement.
When Somalia’s civil war broke out, Hawa Aden was living in Canada. She returned to Somalia in 1995, determined to use her knowledge and experience to support Somali women and girls affected by war.
In 1999, she founded the Galkayo Education Centre for Peace and Development (GECPD) in Galkayo. The centre became known for its work in girls’ education, women’s empowerment, peace and reconciliation, human rights, efforts to end female genital mutilation, and preventing violence against women.
She gave particular attention to women and girls affected by conflict and displacement, believing that education was one of the most important ways to improve lives and create opportunities.
Hawa Aden received several international awards in recognition of her humanitarian work and advocacy for women and displaced people. In 2012, the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, awarded her the Nansen Refugee Award, one of the world’s leading humanitarian honours.
Her other awards included the Woman of the Year Award in 1994, the Voices of Courage Award in 2001, Marie Claire’s Top Ten Women of the World in 2004, and Amnesty International’s Ginetta Sagan Award in 2005.
Her death leaves behind a lasting legacy of education, peacebuilding and women’s empowerment. Thousands of Somalis, particularly women and girls, benefited from educational opportunities, skills training, protection and other support made possible through her work.
