Blind Somali Journalist Defies Odds in Mogadishu

Blind Somali Journalist Defies Odds¹ in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU—

Despite improving security in the last few years, Somalia remains² one of the most dangerous countries to be a journalist — even more so for someone who cannot see. Journalist Abdifatah Hassan Kalgacal has been reporting from the Somali capital for the last decade, despite being blind.

The visually impaired³ reporter has defied the odds in a country ranked among the deadliest for journalists. He works at one of Mogadishu's leading radio stations.

His friends and colleagues call him Kalgacal.

“I had an eye illness at a very young age. But I couldn’t get proper medical treatment due to the situation in Somalia. After the civil war started, I lost all hope of ever seeing again and had no medical support,” he said.

Despite the massive challenges, Kalgacal persevered⁴ and now works at Goobjoog Radio Station as its senior reporter covering the Somali parliament.

He also has a weekly program for disabled people called State of the Disabled. The live call-in show is popular, focusing on empowering the disabled by educating them on their basic rights.

“I hope to use my position in the media to be a voice of the people and improve the humanitarian⁵ situation,” he said.

And he said he hopes his message will resonate beyond Somalia’s borders.

Speaking two years ago at a Technology, Entertainment and Design event — a global non-profit group to promote cultural understanding — Kalgacal described his journey from being born to a poor family in southern Somalia to becoming a husband, a father and journalist despite his visual impairment.  

He said many people advised him against pursuing such a dangerous career. He said it was his childhood dream, though, and being sightless doesn’t make him any more — or any less — vulnerable than other journalists.

The key to overcoming his challenges, he said, is a belief in himself, the support of his friends and family — and bosses willing to employ him for his skills and overlook his disability.

1 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 impaired   

adj.受损的；出毛病的；有（身体或智力）缺陷的v.损害，削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Much reading has impaired his vision. 大量读书损害了他的视力。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• His hearing is somewhat impaired. 他的听觉已受到一定程度的损害。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 persevered   

v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She persevered with her violin lessons. 她孜孜不倦地学习小提琴。
• Hard as the conditions were, he persevered in his studies. 虽然条件艰苦，但他仍坚持学习。 来自辞典例句

5 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。