Host Kortney Wilson speaks with Fartumo Kusow, a mother who bravely shares her harrowing journey of fleeing war-torn Somalia, raising her children in Canada, and ultimately facing the tragic loss of her daughter to intimate partner violence. They discuss the signs of abuse, and the emotional turmoil of a mother trying to protect her child from a manipulative partner. Through her advocacy, Fartumo aims to raise awareness about intimate partner violence and the importance of support systems for those affected. She reflects on the unbreakable bond of motherhood, the challenges of navigating the police investigation, and the struggle to find closure. Fartumo emphasizes the importance of speaking out against intimate partner violence and the need for systemic change to protect vulnerable individuals. Through her advocacy work, she aims to honor her daughter's memory and help others facing similar struggles.
More about Fartumo Kusow:
Born in Somalia, Fartumo Kusow immigrated to Canada in 1991 at the start of the Somali civil war. Her first novel in English, Tale of a Boon’s Wife, was published in 2017 to critical acclaim. Her upcoming novel Winter of My Spring will be published in 2026.
Fartumo is the founder of the Sahra Bulle Foundation, established in honor of her daughter, to educate and raise awareness against gender-based violence. She also organizes the annual #IamSahraBulle Conference in collaboration with the University of Windsor, providing a platform to inspire change and advocacy.
In addition to her writing, Fartumo leads workshops and gives presentations for unions, schools, and workplaces, focusing on topics like gender equity, violence prevention, and community healing. She is also a podcaster, hosting My Mother: The Person and the Patient, a heartfelt exploration of caregiving for her mother with Alzheimer’s, and Break the Silence, Build a Future, inspired by her daughter's tragic murder in an act of gender-based violence.
Fartumo earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor. She now teaches English literature and lives in Windsor, Ontario, as a proud mother of five adult children.
Find out more about Fartumo and her work:
https://www.instagram.com/fartumokusow/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvrcmHf0KeGHhU1aZVWX9Lw
https://www.uwindsor.ca/vp-people-equity-inclusion/465/iamsahrabulle-conference
Connect with Kortney:
https://www.shitstickoflife.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shitstickoflifepodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@allthingskortney
Watch this Episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/PICD8glTuSg
Canadian Resources:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/stop-family-violence/services.html
https://www.sheltersafe.ca/
https://www.casw-acts.ca/en/resources/family-and-intimate-partner-violence
https://www.awhl.org/donate
American Resources:
https://www.thehotline.org/
https://victimconnect.org/resources/national-hotlines/
https://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence
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