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STORY: SOMALIA / MOGADISHU FITNESS CENTRE 

TRT: 2:34

SOURCE: AU/UN IST

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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/SOMALIA/NATS

DATELINE: 12 AUGUST 2013, MOGADISHU

SHOTLIST:

1.Wide shot, title down Mogadishu Fitness Centre

2.Med shot, young men working out at the gym

3.Med shot, young men on machines at the gym

4.Med shot, instructor Mohammed Jama training mixed martial arts5.Close up, students on punching bag

6.Med shot, instructor Mohammed Jama training student on the punching bag

7. SOUNDBITE (English), Mohammed Jama, Somali Mixed Martial artist

" Young guys are very enthusiastic to learn this stuff. Am just happy to teach them

and the way they are taking it is absolutely phenomenal. I see that they are hungry

for this”. 

8.Med shot, Jama Mohammed and students boxing

9.Wide shot, Jama and student jogging on the spot

10.Wide shot, training at the gym

11.Med shot, Jama and others training at the gym

12.SOUNDBITE (English), Mohammed Jama, Somali Mixed Martial artist 

“The most important thing is to sweat, make your blood circulate in your heart, that

way you will feel better. A healthy body is a healthy mind. You will make good

decisions eventually like you know when you work out, you feel good, less stress.” 

13.Med shot, students at the gym training

14.Wide shot, instructor and student training

15.Close up shot, student training

16. SOUNDBITE (English), Mohammed Jama, Somali Mixed Martial artist

“For me coming from over seas, for the twenty-four years. Am just excited to be in

my country, my original country. This is where my family, my father, my ancestors

are from here. So right now am just excited to see something real bright. Am

optimistic, like I know the whole thing, there is no peace. But you know the fact is I

see it with my own eyes, it’s getting much better. Like time after time".

17.Close up, instructor training with students

18.Wide shot, young men at the gym training

STORY:

It ’s mid afternoon and things are already heating up at the Mogadishu Fitness Centre,

the gym is already packed with young men and the few women who come to thismodern gym the in Somali capital to get fit.

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As security continues to improve in the city and other parts of the Horn of African

Nation, people are going about their normal days routines without fear and are turning

to fitness centers like this one to pastime and get healthy.

Mohammed Jama has just returned to his country of birth since he left 24 years ago for

the United States of America. It has been only eleven days since his return and alreadyhe is making new friends. While in the States, Mohammed was a mixed martial artist and

he is keen on showing his country-mates the tricks of the trade.

" Young guys are very enthusiastic to learn this stuff. Am just happy to teach them and

the way they are taking it is absolutely phenomenal. I see that they are hungry for this.”

Says Mohammed Jama.

Many of these young men would not have dared to do this just two years ago, when the

Islamic militant group al Shabaab was in control of the city and forced their extremist 

agenda on the people of Somalia. They banned sporting activities and enforced a whole

list of restrictive do’s and don’ts.

But things have changed, the Al Qaeda linked group have lost most of the towns and

cities they once controlled and are on the run from the Somali Nation Army, supported

by AMISOM, the African Union forces in Somalia. The growing number gyms and other

sporting activities across the country is testament that al Shabaab has lost its grip.

Back at the Mogadishu Fitness Centre, the young men are working up a sweat, Jama is

big on fitness and his workouts can get intense. He encourages more people to come out 

and workout.

“The most important thing is to sweat, make your blood circulate in your heart, that way

you will feel better.” Says Mohammed Jama, “A healthy body is a healthy mind. You willmake good decisions eventually like you know when you work out, you feel good, less

stress."

Many businessmen are taking advantage of the security and stability in many parts of 

the country and are investing in shops, hotels, restaurants and now fitness centres, as

the nation rebuilds itself from decades of civil war.

“For me coming from over seas, for the twenty-four years. Am just excited to be in my

country, my original country. This is where my family, my father, my ancestors are from

here.” Adds Jama, “So right now am just excited to see something real bright. Am

optimistic, like I know the whole thing, there is no peace. But you know the fact is I see it with my own eyes, it ’s getting much better. Like time after time".

The Mogadishu Fitness centres is one of the newer gyms in the city, it has been open for

just two months now and has over one hundred members already. With the silence of 

guns and bombs, Mogadishu residents like others across the country are taking on a

healthy living, resolute to reach their goal, as the country stands determined the to put 

behind it, the years of wars and conflict.

END.