Women who led
Farhiyo Farah Ibrahim (Farxiyo Faarax Ibraahim)
Farhiyo Farah Ibrahim (born about 1982) is a Somali social activist and interpreter who advocates for women's rights and reproductive health. She grew up in the Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya from 1992. From 2002 she worked for the National Council of Churches of Kenya on HIV testing, family planning and against female genital mutilation. She received the US International Women of Courage Award in 2008.
Farhiyo Farah IbrahimFarxiyo Faarax Ibraahim
- Lived
- 1982 to today
- Known as one of
- Women who led
- Era
- The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 1 sources
Who is she?
Farhiyo Farah Ibrahim is a Somali social activist and interpreter (Wikipedia, 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). 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 and Somalis in Kenya.
Health work
In 2002 she became a reproductive health motivator for the National Council of Churches of Kenya (Wikipedia). 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.
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).
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.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Farhiyo Farah Ibrahim · en.wikipedia.org
Farhiyo Farah IbrahimFarxiyo Faarax Ibraahim
- Lived
- 1982 to today
- Known as one of
- Women who led
- Era
- The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 1 sources
Toosoo!
Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.
Can you help with Farhiyo Farah Ibrahim (Farxiyo Faarax Ibraahim)? Tell us what you can give.
I want to help with this
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Edna Adan Ismail: the nurse-midwife who built a hospital in HargeisaEdna Adan Ismail: first Somali nurse-midwife, WHO officer, founder of a hospital and university in Hargeisa, FGM campaigner, 2023 Templeton Prize winner.
- Hawo Tako (Xaawo Taako)Hawo Tako (Xaawo Taako), the Somali Youth League member who died in Mogadishu in January 1948 and is remembered as a national heroine.
- Asha Haji Elmi (Caasha Xaaji Cilmi)Asha Haji Elmi, born 1962: founder of the Sixth Clan women's movement, peace negotiator, MP and 2008 Right Livelihood laureate.
- Fartuun Adan (Fartuun Cabdisalaan Aadan)Fartuun Adan, born 1969: head of Elman Peace in Mogadishu, co-founder of Sister Somalia, and 2022 Right Livelihood laureate.
- Dr Hawa Abdi (Xaawo Cabdi Dhiblaawe)Dr Hawa Abdi (1947–2020): doctor and lawyer whose clinic near Afgooye became a hospital and a refuge for 90,000 people.
- Fadumo Dayib (Faadumo Daayib)Fadumo Dayib (born 1972): former refugee, nurse and UN health expert, first woman to run for President of Somalia (2016).