Literacy award winner jumped out of comfort zone to learn

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This article was published 06/03/2024 (916 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When she went back to school after her husband’s death, Hamdi Warsame felt a bit embarrassed to be an adult student.

Now she’s being honoured by the province for her work in the classroom.

The 47-year-old, who immigrated to Canada in 1993 before settling in Winnipeg with her children several years ago, is in her third year of studies at Literacyworks, an adult education organization.

Warsame, who is originally from Somalia, enrolled in the adult literacy and learning program and at first wasn’t sure it was for her.

“Going back to school was very difficult for me because as an adult, I was feeling kind of, like, ashamed,” Warsame said.

She observed other students’ papers and believed she wasn’t on their level, but with encouragement from her instructors, she finally told herself, “it’s OK, you can do this. You got this.”

Warsame never missed a day of school even when the weather was poor or when she missed the bus.

“My teachers, they knew that I was really working hard… and then the minister’s office called me.”

That’s when she learned she had won Manitoba’s 2023 Council of the Federation Literacy Award.

“The award I won was actually amazing for me,” she said, noting she did not always have success in the classroom.

As a child in Somalia, she attended a religious institution and, with harsh teachers, found the work difficult. Struggling to keep up with her siblings, she often gave up. “So that was my education — I wasn’t getting an education,” she said, chuckling.

When she turned nine, that changed after she found a teacher who encouraged her.

“I still communicate with that teacher up to this day,” she said. “The thing is, you never forget that kind of person.”

Nearly 40 years later, Warsame loves learning. She says her instructors are patient and accustomed to helping new learners. After she graduates, she hopes to pursue a career in health care.

“I’m going to keep pushing myself,” she said. “I need to take care of my kids, and get a job, and do something good for my life — for me.”

Warsame received her award from Education Minister Renée Cable at a ceremony at the legislature last month, with her teachers and several children in attendance.

Warsame did not want to be photographed for this story due to personal and religious reasons.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca