Features / Better Bristol
‘I want to see more young Somali girls going to university’
Bristol Women’s Voice, an organisation working to make women’s equality in Bristol a reality, has set up The Wonderful Women Awards as part of their International Women’s Day celebrations.
These awards recognise the wonderful women in our city that are trying to make a difference. This is the second in the Bristol24/7 series that aims to shine a spotlight on the award winners.
Asha Mohammed is a fourth year medical student at Bristol University, who received a Wonderful Women Award for her work with Integrate UK. In her spare time, she works alongside the charity to tackle gender-based violence, particularly female genital mutilation (FGM) and radicalisation.
We put some questions to her:
Wonderful Women Awards
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell myself to be more confident and believe in myself. Choose to take opportunities rather than letting them pass by.
Which women have inspired you?
My mum, she came from a war-torn country and made a life for herself and for us, in a completely different continent. She has worked really hard to ensure that we can have a good life and a good education.
What do you want to see change for women in Bristol?
Specifically for my community, I want to see more young Somali girls who are going to university. There are already so many inspirational Somali girls out there and it would be great to see more pursuing higher education. Five years ago this was not the reality for many and us girls have changed societal expectations already, which is great. Broadly, I want to see women continue to break barriers and be fearless.
Is there anything that you have read, seen or listened to recently which has inspired you?
I saw an article about Leyla Hussein, who is a prominent FGM activist; it really inspired me because of her resilience and her activism and just her motivation to keep working really hard to make sure that FGM is stopped by 2030. Even though she has been through it herself she still inspires other people to be part of the campaign.
I have also been inspired by the words of Warsan Shire who was the first Young Poet Laureate for London aged 25.
Keep an eye out next Friday for another interview with another wonderful woman.
Find out more about Bristol Women’s Voice and their Wonderful Women Award’s online: www.bristolwomensvoice.org.uk
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