Although Yusuf grew up in Hargeisa, a city located in a largely agricultural region of Somaliland, he spent a lot of time in his mother’s rural village. There he learned about cattle raising, an important part of Somali culture, and also helped plant vegetables, maize, and sorghum on his grandparents’ farm. Yusuf’s talent for natural sciences and math earned him a partial scholarship at the Abaarso School of Science and Technology, one of the best high schools in the country.
Yusuf heard about EARTH through a school counselor and several classmates who were already studying at the University. “This is the only place I have seen that has everything I want. It’s been an excellent fit for me so far.” Yusuf hopes to eventually guide national environmental policy by becoming the Minister of Agriculture or Environment. “If someday I can make an impact on my country in this way, it would be very good.”
