Unifor Social Justice Fund donates to Somali Hope Foundation at annual gala in Ottawa

Unifor locals in Ottawa, including Local 6004 and Local 1688 have long supported the work of the Somali Hope Foundation, an international NGO behind the Somali Hope Academy in Bur Salah, Somalia.

On Saturday May 2, members and elected leadership including Unifor National President Lana Payne and Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi attended the Foundation's annual gala in Ottawa, On. The gala, the final event of its kind for the Foundation, marked 16 years of community engagement and fundraising in the national capital region.

At the event, Hashi delivered a $45,000 donation on behalf of Unifor's Social Justice Fund and the union to the Somali Hope Foundation.

"Delivering free, accessible, high-quality, equitable education to children in rural Somalia, is quite literally changing lives," said Hashi. "Education is the foundation for building stronger families, stronger communities, and a stronger future."

The Hope Academy provides free education to girls and boys in rural Somalia, focusing on advancing rural and girl's education.

Today, more than 1000 students attend the school, which also provides adult education to the surrounding communities.

"For 16 years the Somali Hope foundation has grown from a simple idea to something beautiful. This is the beginning of a new chapter and a legacy that will live on through every student and family hat has attended the school," said one of the evening's cohosts, Choukri Abdi.

Unifor Local 6004 President Ahmed Ismail sits on the Board of the Somali Hope Foundation, carrying out trade union principals of social justice through the incredible work of the Somali Hope Academy.

"The Somali Hope Foundation is such a powerful example of how local communities, like the community here in Ottawa, can build international solidarity. I'm proud that Unifor's Social Justice Fund is able to support their work," said Payne.

For more information on the Somali Hope Foundation, and to see how to get involved, visit https://www.somalihopefoundation.ca