Who We Are
Our History
Globalmama was founded in 2010 by Amina Souleiman who is currently the Director of the organisation. Amina is a passionate human rights activist and advocate for the rights of women and girls. She has 21 years experience of working with women and young people and has developed and managed projects in the UK, Somalia and Tanzania. She has authored and co-authored six books of the real-life stories and first-person accounts of refugee women in the UK and rural herdswomen in Somalia. Amina is supported in the running of Globalmama by directors Amal Ahmed, Anab Jaamac, Asma Haybe and Maryan Ali who all offer a wealth of experience in setting up social enterprise projects, running community activities and working with refugee women.
In East Africa, Globalmama co-managed a UNDEF-funded project to empower women market traders in Hargeisa, and rural herdswomen and agro-pastoralists in Beerato village in Somaliland. As part of the project, Globalmama also developed a team of female student lawyers to help women in Somaliland understand their basic human rights and to voice their needs. The project was such a success that the UNDEF produced a documentary on the impact of the project.
Over the past year, Globalmama’s impact has reached record levels with more than 200 women undertaking training with the organisation.
In the UK, Globalmama has continually acted as an advocate between the Somali refugee community and the South Yorkshire Police and Prevent Team promoting understanding and improving relations and trust. In 2011, Globalmama launched the ‘Empower Programme’ to raise awareness and understanding among refugee women on issues relating to anti-social behaviour, gangs, guns and knives. This project was so successful that discussions between the women and officers have continued ever since and beneficiaries progressed onto the ‘Grow Your Own’ project with Heeley City Farm where refugee women and young people worked together to explore ideas of healthy eating and economising by growing.
Over the past year, Globalmama’s impact has reached record levels with more than 200 women undertaking training with the organisation, including the ‘Women into Business’ programme for women who want to use their existing skills to develop small businesses and enterprises, and more than 50 volunteers supporting the work of the organisation.
Globalmama is now looking to build upon its past successes in both the UK and East Africa and to embark on the next phase of its mission to create a new generation of female social entrepreneurs.
Our Sponsors
We are proud to be supported by:
Our Partners
Globalmama work closely with a network of international partners to expand our impact into communities in East Africa and ensure that women from even the most impoverished backgrounds have the opportunity to build sustainable enterprises to support themselves, their family and their community. Our partners include:
Emayani Foundation was founded by 20 women in the Arusha region of Tanzania who wanted to use storytelling as a means to challenge stereotypes about the Maasai people, raise cultural awareness and address vital social issues including HIV/AIDS and FGM. Their vision is a society where women and girls are able to receive the quality education and skills training needed to discover and realise their potential.
Sheba Tours aim to promotes the image of the African woman and empower them to better themselves and their community. They offer cultural tours which challenge stereotypes, change attitudes to tourism and make the image of African women more positive. Sheba also create education and employment opportunities to improve the financial security of impoverished African women inspire them to become entrepreneurs and take on leadership roles in their community.
Horn of
Africa
Horn of Africa is the sister project of Globalmama, set up and run by previous Globalmama project beneficiaries. The charity focuses on the promotion of health and well-being amongst refugee women, delivering regular fitness and exercise classes in the community. The charity also offers storytelling workshops for women to express their views and share their cultural identity, as well as language support including translation and interpretation services for refugee women. Horn of Africa also undertakes fundraising activities for projects in the women’s home countries in Africa.