# Farhiyo Farah Ibrahim (Farxiyo Faarax Ibraahim)

> Farhiyo Farah Ibrahim: Somali reproductive health advocate from Dadaab, International Women of Courage Award 2008.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/farhiyo-farah-ibrahim/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who is she?

Farhiyo Farah Ibrahim is a Somali social activist and interpreter ([Wikipedia, Farhiyo Farah Ibrahim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farhiyo_Farah_Ibrahim)). She advocates for women's rights and reproductive health (same source).

## Early life

She was born in Somalia in 1982 or 1983 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farhiyo_Farah_Ibrahim)). Her family was attacked during the civil war, and in 1992 she moved to Kenya, to the UNHCR camps at Dadaab (same source). She left school after the eighth grade to support her family (same source). Wikipedia says she was later estranged from her family after refusing a marriage to a much older man (same source). See [refugee camps](/en/diaspora/refugee-camps/) and [Somalis in Kenya](/en/diaspora/kenya/).

## Health work

In 2002 she became a reproductive health motivator for the National Council of Churches of Kenya ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farhiyo_Farah_Ibrahim)). She promoted voluntary HIV testing and counselling and the use of contraception, and campaigned against female genital mutilation (same source). Wikipedia says the work caused tension with her family and with parts of the Somali community, and she later left the job under pressure (same source). See [female genital cutting](/en/society/female-genital-cutting/).

By 2008 she was working as an interpreter and continuing to speak for women and girls (same source).

## Award

In 2008 she received the US International Women of Courage Award for her advocacy ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farhiyo_Farah_Ibrahim)).

## In short

A Somali advocate from the Dadaab camps who worked on HIV testing and against FGM and won the Women of Courage Award in 2008.

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