Photo of Salma Osman Abdi by Ibrahim CM. Used with permission.
This interview was supported through the African Union Media Fellowship and the International Consulting Expertise, in partnership with the European Union.
The African Union Media Fellowship (AUMF), implemented by the African Union Information and Communication Directorate and supported by the European Union, aims to change the common narratives about Africa.
The AUMF thus underlines the necessity of elevating African voices in international discourses. It explores how storytelling can help audiences understand how migration affects individuals, families, and society as a whole — not just through numbers and policy issues but deeply human experiences.
The series of interviews produced as a result of this project aims to highlight stories from the diaspora that cover the themes of migration, culture, creative art, community activism and international cooperation. This was more than a professional assignment; it was deep into the lives and stories of Somali diasporans in two cities that are both rich in history and alive with cultural diversity.
Many of those featured through this fellowship are people whose voices seldom get heard-entrepreneurs, community leaders, artists, and students — each in different ways making their way into the challenges and opportunities of migration. Their testimony reflected not just the private tribulations and victories but also much wider themes: Struggles of identity and belonging, where tradition meets modernity.
Salma Osman Abdi is the Executive Director of the SAFWAC Foundation, an NGO dedicated to aiding dispalced communities and refugees in Egypt. She was born and raised in Mogadishu, Somalia, but moved to Cairo, Egypt, in 2006, where she currently resides. She has been a member of the SAFWAC Foundation since its inception in 2011, serving as a co-founder. In late 2022, she was appointed by the board to take on the role of Executive Director.
Mohamed Mohamud (MM): Could you start by telling me about yourself and your background?
Salma Osman (SO): I’m Salma Osman Abdi, a Co-founder and now Executive Director of the SAFWAC Foundation. I am originally from Somalia and currently living in Cairo, Egypt. I co-founded the organization in 2011, and toward the close of 2022, our board appointed me the Executive Director. My commitment to SAFWAC all the years of its existence has been for rather deeper purposes than any other commitment outside self and family.
MM: What motivated the establishment of SAFWAC? Can you tell me more about its mission and community service?
SO: SAFWAC Foundation stands for service and care. The organization was established to ensure a better quality of life for Somali refugees in Egypt, extending its support to other vulnerable groups as well. It became officially registered with the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity in 2022.
Our mission is deeply rooted in empowering those most in need: women, children, youth, and the elderly. We provide necessary services that are specifically designed for these groups.