Saving Our Mothers: SYFI 2019

Somali Youth for Integrity (SYFI) is a youth led organisation with primary goals to unify the Somali community by volunteering to make a positive change in the world and facilitate empowerment. Last year, SYFI partnered up with African Relief Fund (charity no.106275) to build a school in Somalia. By the grace of God, we were able to raise just shy of ￡60,000, and the school is currently in the process of being completed. You can find a breakdown of other projects underway/ completed on www.syfiofficial.com. 

This year, I had the pleasure of being a part of the monumental annual campaign that is #FebruaryFundraiser. SYFI acted as a springboard for 42 other institutions worldwide to collectively raised money towards a noble cause. This year’s project was aimed to tackle the alarming rates of maternal and infant mortality in Somalia. 

According to ABC News, Somalia is labelled as one of the worst places to be as a mother, with 1 in 12 women facing a lifetime risk of maternal death and 1 in 7 children not living live to see their fifth birthday. SYFI partnered up with African Relief Fund for a second year to create a project which aims to train and educate female healthcare workers in the community to carry out basic checks and identify high risk mothers, as well as providing education to expecting mothers. In just 28 days of fundraising campaigns students went above and beyond to make a real difference with a whole host of challenges including sky dives, community fun days, football tournaments and a mountain climb! 

For my personal challenge, I pledged to climb a mountain, this year we tackled Cadair Idris in Wales! The day was not easy and the winds made it difficult to push on but the comradery and positive spirits amongst the 140+ students that joined made it hard to not enjoy, an amazing memorable display of unity. 

Another highlight from the month was running a 5-mile race course with over 40 different obstacles including water, mud and steep hills, safe to say to was definitely a challenge! 

The month ended on a high as we celebrated the four intense weeks of everyone's fundraising efforts and the total was announced. The Somali Youth raised an incredible ￡151,723.17! It was a true example of how a collaborative effort from University Somali societies across the UK and beyond can have a tangible impact to not only us here in the UK but more importantly in Somalia. With International Women’s Day events and blog posts running over the course of the weekend, it has rightly reaffirmed to me just how special, selfless and loving the women in our lives are and the huge impact they have on us everyday. 

Every single child should have the same chance at life and every single mother should have the same chance to experience a healthy birth and be able to live to see their child, a privilege we so often take for granted. 

As my fellow auditors know we are knee deep into busy season although the long workings weeks can be taxing, I'm reminded there is nothing more tough than being a mother without access to basic maternal care in Africa. February Fundraiser is always something I look forward to, I'm able to be completely selfless in the choices I make to better the lives of others all whilst making lifelong friends and creating lifelong memories. A reminder to myself and my Muslim network reading this post that charity is at the center of our beautiful faith and acts as a form of worship and is one of the five pillars of Islam, something we should always hold in high regards. 

The rate at which SYFI has grown in the last 3 years has been exponential, the short route from an idea to a reality has been nothing short of inspirational and I’m truly blessed to have been a part of such a fantastic movement (can’t wait for next years!).