Built on care and connection: how a Somali-British woman is strengthening diaspora communities

From that moment on, Safia learned early on what it meant to care for others.

As a primary school student, Safia began helping newly arrived families by translating at doctor’s appointments and other essential gatherings, drawing on her own family’s migration experience.

Now Safia leads the Women’s Inclusive Team (WIT) as Chief Executive – a grassroots charity committed to supporting women from diverse backgrounds through socially inclusive, culturally sensitive and wellbeing-focused programmes.

Catalysts for innovation

By moving between cultures and belonging, migrant and diaspora leaders not only gain a unique perspective, but often also become catalysts for innovation – strengthening local communities, families and services and contributing to wider society.

Together with other women, Safia started organizing small sessions focused on playful learning and parenting.

“When I became a young mother in my early 20s, I realized how powerful learning through play could be, especially if women experienced it together,” Safia recalls.

At the time, these approaches were not widely accessible across communities, and many mothers did not have a space where they could learn and support each other.

As the charity grew, these activities expanded beyond learning, opening pathways to employment and skills development for women in the community.

“Today the work is creating opportunities that support both families and livelihoods,” said Safia.

Leadership in the Diaspora

Remittances are crucial for families and communities across borders; around £9.3 billion is sent from Britain to Somalia every year.

Cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the WIT project helps diaspora communities reduce these costs.

Through digital financial literacy activities, participants cut remittance costs in half in the first year, helping families make better use of their resources.

For Safia, however, leadership in the diaspora goes far beyond financial transfers. It is rooted in care, resilience and responsibility and contributes to stability and opportunity, both in the countries of origin and in Britain.

“The connection with our villages in the countries of origin is crucial,” she says. “Like anywhere, big cities tend to attract the most resources. The money we send helps build roads, hospitals and supports communities that might otherwise be overlooked.”

Women are crucial

According to Safia, women play a central role when it comes to remittances. “It is often women who manage the cash transfers. They play a central role in supporting their families and communities.” she emphasized.

Women not only provide most of the cash transfers, but they also share the knowledge they learn with others in their communities, often driving both cultural and systemic change.

Safia’s story reflects the power of leadership in the diaspora, built through care, shared knowledge and long-term commitment.

By supporting women and communities that invest in each other, her journey shows how everyday acts of responsibility can strengthen societies over time.