From an early age, Safia learned the importance of looking out for others. As a primary school student, she began helping newly arrived families by translating at GP appointments and other essential meetings, drawing on her own family’s experience of migration.
Today, Safia leads the Women’s Inclusive Team (WIT) as Chief Executive, a grassroots charity that supports women from diverse backgrounds through socially inclusive, culturally sensitive, and well-being-focused programs. Under her leadership, WIT has created spaces for women to learn, connect, and develop both personally and professionally.
Safia and her colleagues started by running small sessions focused on play-based learning and parenting. She recalls that when she became a young mother in her early twenties, she recognized how powerful learning through play could be, especially in group settings where women could support each other. At the time, such opportunities were not widely accessible across all communities, leaving many mothers without spaces to learn and connect.
As the charity grew, these activities expanded beyond learning, opening pathways into employment and skills development. Safia emphasizes that today, WIT’s work supports both families and livelihoods, creating broader opportunities for women in the community.
Diaspora leadership is also central to Safia’s work. Remittances sent from the UK to Somalia—approximately £9.3 billion annually—play a vital role in supporting families and communities across borders. Partnering with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), WIT helps diaspora communities reduce remittance costs. Through digital financial literacy initiatives, participants cut remittance fees by half in the first year, enabling families to make better use of their resources.
For Safia, diaspora leadership extends beyond financial transfers. It is rooted in care, resilience, and responsibility, contributing to stability and opportunity both in countries of origin and in the UK. She highlights that connections with villages in countries of origin are crucial, as remittances help build roads, hospitals, and other essential infrastructure that might otherwise be overlooked.
Women play a central role in these processes, often managing money transfers and sharing knowledge within their communities. Safia stresses that women not only facilitate financial support but also drive cultural and systemic change, reflecting the broader impact of diaspora leadership.
Safia’s story exemplifies the strength of leadership built on care, shared knowledge, and long-term commitment. Through women supporting women and communities investing in one another, her journey demonstrates how everyday acts of responsibility can strengthen societies over time.
