Women with Disabilities Overcoming Cultural and Social Discrimination: The biography of Farihya Osman

       Being of Somali descent, Farhiya overcame the adversity of being physically disabled to become one of the 21st century's leading humanitarians’ assistant and inspiration. In addition she became as co-founder of the Filsan supply & construction company. 

       Best words are “I’m not a perfect person we all have a lot of mistakes but I have learn through my experience and those people who stay with me after knowing how I really am”. Farhiya is a kind heart person who literary help people sometime go all the way even if she is not super hero. Putting a smile on a client’s face is all the satisfaction she needs.

       Born on the 21^st of 1982 Kenya Mombasa County to the late Osman Abdi, she was the last born of eight siblings.  Stricken by poliomyelitis that left her physically disabled owning to lack of early immunization, Farhiya become unique to the culture surrounding her.  Beginning life with such a reality made it even worse because the community she hailed from. Highly disregarded for her inability, the community failed to see her unique beauty and ability. As a social worker, she helps those with disabilities to overcome the daily hassles.

In her early life she was raised by Dr Ingabor who instilled values of Christianity and the western world view which made her a very unique person. Through her mentor Dr Okelo who helped her to make tremendous progress to accept and use her disability. This was also an added advantage for her to go through all 2 corrective surgeries. Farihya attended college in technical university of Kenya then later went on to graduate with diploma, moreover her passion for the community derived her to take a certificate in social work.

     At the age of 5year she did not know what to do, she always found herself on door staring and long to have the same opportunity to play outside just like her sister and brother. The question that was always on her mind was what wrong with me? She later came  to realize that she cannot walk nor do anything. Ten years later her mother took me to a sustain hospital where she got an information that it will help Farihya to walk and become the iron lady I’m of today. APDK took her when she at the age of 15 years. She vividly remembers after the second surgery Madam Mercy who was her teacher and her physiotherapist and a great inspiration. Grew fond of her and their friendship became stronger and better. Words of wisdom, extra care and concern Farihya to inspire others in her life.

       Farihya today is an entrepreneur and a CEO of her own company; she has created job opportunities to the community and continues in helping the needy in working close by with national council for person with disability on helping her community on creating awareness about disability issues and challenging deal with our Somali community. She is making a legacy of her own that you can be unique and great; your disability is your unique ability. Farihya Osman is a legend now and the future to come.

Parting shot

       “We all have footprints of experience in our life start from within ourselves learn to love yourself then you I’ll learn to except yourself the way you are always be happy and kind to yourself spread your wing fly away with dream make it into reality “.