Somali Family Services (SFS) hosted Norwegian Labor Party Councilor Farhia Bashir Nur during her month-long visit to Puntland. Ms. Bashir Nur, one of two Somali women serving as council-members in Norway Norwegian, was visiting Somalia for the first time since 1994. She had the opportunity to meet with Puntland officials and speak at variety public events, including Puntland’s independence-day celebration at the Presidential palace. She also received a tour of SFS’ Puntland Library and Resource Center. SFS was proud to help bridge the gap between Puntland and Norway’s Somali Diaspora.

Farhia Bashir Nur expressed optimism about the future of democratic governance in Puntland, and hopes develop a program in coordination with Somali Family Services to help build more positive links between Puntland’s youth and the Somali Diaspora. Farhia has been a longtime advocate for Somali youth empowerment; she got her start in politics as a member of the Labor Youth, and is a founder of the African Youth Leadership Initiative. She promised to bring back a “new narrative” about the future of Somalia to her community in Norway.

Farhia Bashir Nur was elected to a four-year term as a councilor for the Norwegian city of Stavanger in September 2011. She has worked hard to economically support and politically engage Somali youth in her hometown. In addition to serving her community and remaining active in Norwegian politics, Ms. Bashir Nur studies biosciences at the University of Stavanger, Norway, and hopes to return to East Africa to conduct research upon graduation. Somali Family Services commends Ms. Bashir Nur for her leadership of Somali youth and women’s issues, and looks forward to future collaboration.

Somali Family Services is a non-governmental organization dedicated to fostering a peaceful and democratic Somalia through support of civil society, women, youth, and other marginalized groups

Learn more about SFS’ programs for governance and democracy

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