November 3 2005
Second anniversary of the deaths of Dick and Enid Eyeington
03/11/2005 - The second anniversary of the deaths of former SOS co-workers Dick and Enid Eyeington was marked on 20 October 2005 at the SOS Hermann Gmeiner Secondary School at Sheikh Somaliland with a memorial service attended by school staff and students, members of the local community and representatives of the Somaliland government.
On the morning of 20 October 2005 students from both the SOS Hermann Gmeiner Sheikh Secondary School and other local schools, together with people from the community and Somaliland government representatives gathered in the SOS school compound before proceeding to nearby Sheikh village and then back to the school, to mark the second anniversary of the deaths of former SOS co-workers Dick and Enid Eyeington.
Placards with inscriptions such as 'Dick and Enid will remain in our hearts forever', and 'You have left an indelible mark in our school' were raised by the students, who also gave moving tributes to their former principal and his wife. A form one student, Hassan Jama Migane, moved the crowd with his inspiring poem on the late Eyeingtons, describing them as fallen heroes who moulded the lives of the youth in Somaliland. One girl described Enid, a champion of the girl-child, as "our role model" and "our mother". Students were also heard quoting an oft-repeated saying of Dick's: "Think globally and act locally." On admission, each new student is introduced to this quote as a sign of respect for the late principal.
Tributes from many
Led by dignitaries from the Somaliland government including the Minister of State for the Interior, those present observed a minute's silence before speaker after speaker condemned the murders of Dick and Enid Eyeington.
School principal, Mohammed Omer, read the eulogy while elders from the Sheikh community gave speeches, describing the Eyeingtons as generous and kind people who were conscious of community development. The power generator and the clean piped water supply were named as examples of their projects.
The Mayor of Sheikh closed the occasion with a passionate appeal to well wishers to help the school in honour of the late Eyeingtons, so that the developments that they initiated could be realised. In the evening, a football match in honour of Dick and Enid was played in the school playground between a community team and Sheikh students. The 'Eyeingtons Cup' was presented to the winning community team.
On presenting the cup, the principal, Mohamed Omer said, "Dick being a great footballer and coach deserves a football match in his honour and this will be our tradition from now on."
Dick and Enid Eyeington worked at the SOS Hermann Gmeiner Sheikh Secondary School from January to October 2003 when they were murdered in an unprovoked attack. Those accused of their murder are currently on trial in Somaliland.