Mogadishu, Somalia · Est. 2026
Youth-Led.
Community-
Rooted.
Empowering the next generation of Somali leaders to shape their country's future — today. Over 70% of Somalia's population is under 30. We are making sure our voices are heard.
2.4M+
Social Media Reach
2,500+
Civic Education Participants
70%
Of Somalis Under 30
3
Partner Organisations
What We Do
Three Pillars of Change
SYC is building a Somalia where young people don't just inherit the future — they design it. Our work spans three interconnected areas.
🌱
Environmental Resilience
We clean, green, and map our communities — turning youth energy into measurable environmental change across Mogadishu's schools, coastline, and urban districts.
⭐
Youth Empowerment
We train, equip, and invest in young Somalis — through green skills workshops, girls' leadership programmes, and micro-enterprise seed grants.
🗳️
Democratic Participation
Through civic education, structured dialogue, and youth-led decision-making, we are building a generation that knows its voice counts — and has the confidence to use it.
Somali Solutions, Built by Somalis, for Somalia.
Every donation, every partnership, and every project moves us closer to a country where youth lead — not wait.
About SYC
Who we are, where we came from, and the principle that drives everything we do.
Our Origin Story
It Began on the Streets of Mogadishu
SYC did not begin in an office. It began on the beaches and streets of Mogadishu. Before any formal registration, young Somalis were already showing up — clearing plastic waste from the Indian Ocean coastline, cleaning inner-city school compounds, and organising their peers around issues that mattered. What was missing wasn't the will. It was the structure.
Somali Youth Collective was formally registered in 2026 to provide exactly that — transforming grassroots momentum into organised, accountable, and sustained action. We now have a governance framework, institutional bank accounts, open-book financial reporting, and a two-year programme roadmap. But the energy that drives us is the same energy that started those first clean-ups.
Why We Exist
Challenging the Imbalance
Somalia is one of the youngest nations on earth. Yet for decades, the decisions that have most shaped Somali life — political settlements, constitutional frameworks, resource allocation — have been made almost exclusively by an older generation, through systems that structurally exclude youth.
SYC exists to challenge that imbalance: not through confrontation, but through demonstrated capability. We show that when young Somalis are given structure, responsibility, and trust, they consistently step forward to lead.
"Somali solutions, built by Somalis, for Somalia."
We partner with international organisations to access resources and accountability — while maintaining full programmatic ownership, cultural responsiveness, and community trust. We hold no political affiliations and are committed to inclusive engagement across clan, regional, and gender lines.
Partnerships
Partners We've Worked With
SYC works alongside organisations that share our commitment to youth-led, community-driven impact in Somalia.
Banadir Regional Administration (BRA)
Local government partner for urban environmental work and waste mapping findings.
Sustainable Recycling Somalia (SRS)
Operational partner in environmental services and circular economy initiatives.
IFI Waste Management
Partner in practical waste management programming across Mogadishu.
Further partnerships are being developed and this section will be updated as our work grows.
Youth Initiatives
Before SYC had a name, young Somalis in Mogadishu were already doing the work.
Completed Work
Proof of What Youth Can Do
These initiatives gave birth to the Somali Youth Collective — proof that when youth are motivated, they don't wait for permission.
For decades, the beach next to Mogadishu's historic lighthouse was used as a dumping ground. What should have been one of the city's most treasured public spaces had become a thrashyard — buried under years of accumulated waste.
SYC's founding youth team changed that. Through sustained, volunteer-led effort, the beach was fully cleaned and restored — not by a government programme or an international NGO, but by young Somalis who decided enough was enough.
"This clean-up became a symbol of what SYC stands for: that youth don't have to wait to be handed responsibility. They can take it."
Across Mogadishu's inner-city districts, our youth volunteers organised and delivered a series of large-scale clean-up drives — clearing waste from public spaces, streets, and community areas.
These campaigns built the core team, the coordination methods, and the community relationships that SYC is now built on.
What's Coming
The Road Ahead
SYC's formal programme work begins in 2026, starting with environmental and youth empowerment projects across Mogadishu's schools and coastline.
Full details are available in our programme roadmap — contact us to learn more.
Our flagship programme, building toward 2028 — ensuring young Somalis have the civic education, dialogue platforms, and decision-making structures to participate fully in shaping Somalia's democratic future.
Download our 2-Year Capacity Building Roadmap for full details, or contact us to learn more.
Organisational Structure
Youth-led leadership combining grassroots credibility with international institutional experience.
Board of Directors
Our Leadership Team
SYC is governed by a four-member Board of Directors with clearly defined roles, a 75% supermajority decision-making rule, and a strict open-book financial policy.
Hafso Abdullahi Jama
Chairperson · Director of Strategic Exposure & Visibility
Nationally recognised youth leader, digital activist, and environmental advocate with a combined social media reach exceeding 2.4 million followers. As Chairperson, she leads SYC's strategic direction, public profile, and governance.
Abdiaziiz Bashiir Sahal
Vice Chairperson · Director of Operations
Frontline youth leader with five years of experience mobilising communities across Mogadishu. Co-led SYC's clean-up campaigns and delivered civic education to over 2,500 participants. Holds a BSc in Agriculture and Environmental Science.
Aapo Dahir Osman
Treasurer · Director of Finance
Engineer and sustainability professional with experience across Finland, Denmark, and Somalia. Holds an MSc in Petroleum Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark. Concurrently serves as COO of Sustainable Recycling Somalia.
Mohamed-Deq Sabriye
Head of Partnerships & Fundraising
Senior energy and policy professional with a decade of experience at the Somali Petroleum Authority. Holds an MSc in Global Energy & Climate Policy from SOAS University of London. Leads donor engagement and long-term funding strategy.
Governance Framework
All Board decisions require approval from at least three of four members (75% supermajority). No individual holds unilateral authority. All income and expenditure is published monthly in Somali and English, and presented at quarterly community review sessions. SYC holds no political affiliations and is committed to inclusive engagement across clan, regional, and gender lines.
Media & Publications
SYC is committed to radical transparency — publishing our reports and communications in both Somali and English.
Get in Touch
Whether you're a donor, partner, journalist, or a young Somali who wants to get involved — we want to hear from you.
