Hassan Abdi

Hassan Abdi, 70, operates a sun-baked shoe repair stall near a fishing port on the Gulf of Aden in Djibouti. His days begin before dawn, accompanied by the scent of salt and diesel, as he fixes worn-out soles and fishermen's waders. Known for his meticulous workmanship and fairness, Hassan can sense the difference between a full and empty payment envelope by weight alone. He fully trusts the wisdom of his knees, predicting weather changes, but lies awake at night anxious about his failing joints, the port's uncertain future, and which envelopes will lighten his burdens.