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I would not be the same person I am today if I had not chosen to go to Somaliland, to help create a women’s university from scratch in the middle of the desert, to connect like sisters and to work with my now best friends day and night to ensure and maintain genuine transformation amongst our students. Still talking daily with the girls at Barwaaqo, they are knowledgeable, competent, engaged members of their society and 100% employed which is incredible in a country with rife unemployment. The most important point for me is knowing that each young woman had the opportunity to be a part of an environment that cared for each of them individually and communally and where they could explore, get to know themselves, come fully into their identities and thrive, inevitably including them setting up their own groups especially focused on girls’ and women’s education and empowerment.

Abaarso is a life-changing organization - for teachers as well as for students. Working at Abaarso was a chance to put my values into practice and do mission-driven work with wonderful students and a diverse, outstanding team. The experience of running the school gave me the skills and confidence to successfully found a similar school in Zimbabwe, and I'm certain will benefit me in many other ways over the years to come. No matter what else I do in my career, being able to see the students - and the school itself - grow over my 5+ years there will always be a memory that stays with me forever.

I had the pleasure of working with the Kaabe schools as a teacher for three years and then as a school leader during my last year there. As someone who has significantly benefited from the power of excellent access to education in Abaarso and later in the United States, I am responsible for participating in something that will nurture community leaders for generations to come. Kaabe schools have allowed me to contribute something to my community in a way that will enable the children in the classrooms with which I worked and has allowed me to be an example to young girls and boys who have experienced the joy of learning.

The Abaarso School catapults teachers and students alike into lives of immense growth and impact, and my year on faculty has meant the world to me, even years later. Abaarso was my first full-time teaching experience and, more than any previous job, taught me to work hard, prepare diligently, dive into uncertainty, and find joy in all of it. The relationships with students and friendships with coworkers have enriched my life beyond measure, and the habits and skills I sharpened as a teacher have paid dividends in my career afterward. They show up daily in my consulting work and my work as a board member of a music school--boardrooms and classrooms have a lot in common! This opportunity will bestow enduring friendships and personal growth, inspire deeply meaningful work, open exciting new doors, and surely change the trajectory of your life.

Working in Somaliland for Abaarso Network is one of the rare opportunities to effect meaningful change in a community and country on the cusp of tremendous growth. My five years working in the country at Abaarso’s multiple schools taught me as a young professional how to manage, problem-solve, communicate effectively, and demonstrate resilience – all skills not normally acquired for years into a person’s career. As a teacher, operations manager, finance lead, government liaison – I learned to wear many hats and to development a set of tools that I will carry with me forever. After returning to the US, my experience in Somaliland continued to open doors for me as I pursued a degree in global management from LSE. Most importantly, though, I gained lifelong friendships with students, alumni, teachers and staff members from around the globe. I firmly believe that the teachers, students and staff members at Abaarso are the change-makers and future leaders of the world. It was an honor to get the opportunity to work for such an inspiring and impact-driven organization throughout my 20s.

When I first took a leap into joining Kaabe Schools, I had only a faint idea of how much it would reshape my life. Fast forward 2.5 years, I now understand how immensely meaningful working for Kaabe Schools in Somaliland has been. I not only took part in giving young children access to quality education through Abaarso Network’s incredible initiatives; my work here has also been a significant catalyst for my own personal growth. In the last years, I was able to witness that Abaarso Network’s institutions not only transform the lives of individual children and young adults living in a poor and disadvantaged region like Somaliland but also have the power to shape a whole community. Being part of Abaarso Network means you're not just an employee; you're encouraged to be a creative force, an innovator, and someone whose ideas and talents truly matter. I'm thankful for the friendships I've formed, the chances to make a real impact, and the life skills I've picked up working alongside the leaders of this organization. It's more than a workplace; it's a unique blend of work and life, unlike anything else.