MOSTResource.org

Resources on Muslims for the Entertainment Industry

  • Story Bank
    • Business & Technology
    • Entertainment
    • Culture & Lifestyle
    • Medical
    • National
    • Faith
    • Sports
    • Women
    • World
  • Resources
    • Faces & Places
    • Statistics
    • Infographics
    • Research / Reports
    • Quick Takes
  • Perspectives
  • Events
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Staff
    • Parent Organization
    • Videos
  • Story Bank
  • Business & Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Culture & Lifestyle
  • Medical
  • National
  • Faith
  • Sports
  • Women
  • World
mostresource storybank video

Explored Our Story Bank Yet?

Our curated collection of thousands of stories has helped top Hollywood writers, producers, and creatives. Watch our brief video to learn more.

Women, World — January 15, 2018   

Meet Somalia’s Only Female Mechanic

Original article by Amanda Sperber published in the PRI on 07/19/2017

Photo Credit:PRI
Photo Credit: PRI

Eighteen year-old Nasra Ibrahim is said to be Somalia’s first and only female auto mechanic, an especially amazing accomplishment as only 25% of the female population is reported to be literate and unemployment is at an all time high. Growing up in Hiiraan, as the second-eldest of six children, Ms. Ibrahim says that every day was a struggle. Hiiraan is a region in south-central Somalia where the extremist group al-Shabaab thrives. According to PRI, “The militants forced children to fight, they take over and shutter schools and rape and force girls to marry fighters… those who [didn’t] obey faced execution by stoning.”

At a young age, Ms. Ibrahim worked as a farmer and street vendor. She was forced to leave home as a teen and find work, hitching a ride to the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Along the way, she experienced car problems and eventually found a local garage where mechanics taught her their trade. Soon she landed an apprenticeship and worked her way up to the coveted job as a mechanic. She now works six days a week, and sends the majority of her paycheck back home to her family.

The star mechanic says that working as Somalia’s only female mechanic brings its share of hurdles. Some customers say she is too free, others that she is not be trusted. But Ms. Ibrahim says her work speaks for itself. “I have proved to them that I can make it so they have more respect for me than before.” As a result, she has become well known. “When people come to the garage they say ‘we hear there is a girl mechanic. Is that her?’ … I think lack of confidence is what keeps most women from doing jobs that are different.”

Read more ...

Our Experts Are Here To Help

Contact Quick

Want to start a conversation with our experts for help with your project?

Related Articles

  • M Film Lab Now Accepting Applications for Screenwriting Program
  • American Eid – Interview with Director Aqsa Altaf
  • Post vaccine, Muslim travelers are heading to… Israel

More From The Story Bank

M Film Lab Now Accepting...

Applications are now open for the inaugural M Film Lab: a free-to-join screenwriting workshop and mentorship opportunity for storytellers and creators committed to fair artistic representation of … [Read More...]

American Eid – Interview...

American Eid is a new, short film on Disney+ about two sisters from Pakistan adjusting to their new reality in America when they are unable to take off school to celebrate Eid, the festival after the … [Read More...]

Post vaccine, Muslim travelers...

Last year the Abraham Accords were signed between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. This marked a public normalization of relations not seen in decades. And with this new … [Read More...]

Meet the first Muslim head...

As new head coach for the New York Jets, Robert Saleh is making history as the first Muslim American to lead a team in the National Football League. The Lebanese American is also the third Arab … [Read More...]

Meet American’s Youngest...

According to The Hill, Bushra Amiwala "is part of a new generation stepping into politics." In 2019, she was elected to the Skokie Board of Education in Illinois, making this Pakistani-American … [Read More...]

Enter your email to receive periodic updates

Sign Up Quick

Sign up to receive periodic updates

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

About | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy© 2002–2025 MOST ResourceMOST Resource globe


We use cookies to improve your browsing experience and to collect anonymous data to enable us to manage our website. Our Privacy Policy is a complete disclosure of our data collection policies, including the choices you have to control information we might collect. Your use of this site represents your consent to our Privacy Policy.