In Sanaag region of Somaliland, nearly 750 kilometres from Hargeisa, a passionate group of young social workers are redefining what community-driven change looks like. The Sanaag Social Workers Organisation (SSWO), a youth-led initiative made up of five dynamic members (two women and three men), is reshaping the conversation around female genital mutilation (FGM) through dialogue, trust, and collaboration.
According to the Somalia Health and Demographic Survey (SHDS) 2020, both Somalia and Somaliland are classified as very high-prevalence regions, with an estimated 99.2% of women aged 15–49 having undergone FGM.
Across Somaliland, almost three-quarters (72%) of women aged 15–49 believe that FGM is a requirement of their religion. A perception that underscores the deep influence of faith and tradition. Recognising this, Sanaag Social Workers Organisation (SSWO), a medium grantee partner of The Girl Generation, has spent the past two years implementing community-based interventions that place religious and cultural leaders at the heart of social transformation. In a society where faith and tradition hold deep influence, SSWO recognised that working with respected figures could open doors and stir conversation within the community
“By engaging religious leaders, we were able to influence minds and inspire change more easily; the community listens to them,” says Mohammed Hussein, SSWO’s Project Manager.
Historic Milestone
For SSWO, the TGG-ALM grant marked a historic milestone, their very first funding opportunity. Before joining the programme, the organisation operated with passion but with limited systems. Through TGG-ALM’s capacity-building support, SSWO strengthened its internal policies on finance, governance, communication, and documentation.
This shift proved transformative. What began as a single grant evolved into a foundation for long-term sustainability.
“We didn’t have clear policies before. The training from TGG-ALM helped us professionalise our work and gave us confidence,” Mohammed reflects.
Today, SSWO stands as a model of youth-led resilience in Somaliland. Their growth has inspired confidence among other donors, enabling them to secure a new grant from YBAH (meaning ‘flower’ in Somali), a local organisation supporting grassroots development funded by the European Union.
The organisation credits this success to both their strengthened systems and the collaborative culture nurtured under The Girl Generation.
“We learned to embrace change and work as a team. That’s what gave us an edge,” says Mohammed.
Stories like SSWO’s are emerging across Somaliland, building evidence of how TGG is sowing the seeds of sustainability. Through capacity building and a people-centred approach, TGG-ALM aims to enable locally led organisations to grow beyond the life of the program, ensuring that the movement to end FGM continues to thrive within communities themselves.
