Abdi Barud, Executive Director of the Global Somali Diaspora
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Fairfax, VA - The Somali community in the State of Virginia, USA hosted a formal reception dinner in recognition of the newly founded Global Somali Diaspora (GSD) organization.
GSD’s mission is to undertake activities to advocate, advance, and empower the Somali communities in the Diaspora and provide an effective advocacy for all issues pertinent to the Somali Communities in the Diaspora and in the Homeland. GSD has chapter leaders, representatives and members in 20 countries where there are the largest Somali diaspora.
Human Rights activist Guled Kassim moderated an impressive line-up of guest-speakers from across the spectrum of public and nonprofit sectors as they offered insights on the importance of organizing and empowering the Somali communities in the Diaspora. Among the notable guest-speakers was Ambassador Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, Somalia's Ambassador to the United States.
All speakers stressed that Somali Diaspora resourcefulness, unity, and collaboration are core fundamental principles of success and self-dignity in diaspora communities. They all urged the Somali communities in the USA and abroad to safeguard the connectivity and cultural values of Somali diaspora communities around the world.
One of the notable speakers was a representative from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Center for International Disaster Information.
Global Somali Diaspora Representatives from the United Kingdom, Canada, Minnesota, Seattle, and Ohio were among the notable attendees.
"I am delighted that the event was well attended and represented. I am grateful that Somali Americans in Virginia have came together tonight to welcome GSD and offered their full support to ensure that Somali diaspora have an organization that can advocate for their rights, aspirations and dignity; that can organize diaspora communities to achieve their common needs; and that can promote their well respected culture and language" Said Abdi Barud, Executive Director of the Global Somali Diaspora
Sadik Warfa, Deputy Director for the Global Somali Diaspora, echoed Abdi Barud’s reaction to the formal reception adding “We hope Somali communities around the world will rally around this new organization and work with us so that all of us together we can move our people forward.”
Barlin Ali, Global Somali Diaspora Board member and a highly respected member of the Somali community in Virginia concluded the event with a message of appreciation toward the GSD team in Virginia and the volunteers who made the formal reception dinner possible.
Close to 200 members of the Somali community in Virginia attended the event.