In celebration of International Youth Day 2026 on August 12, 2026, Hawa Feminist Coalition brought together 30 young women professionals, community leaders, activists, and coalition members in an event held in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia for a networking and discussion session designed to strengthen connections, encourage open dialogue, and amplify the voices and experiences of young women.
The event created a supportive and judgment-free space where participants could connect across different professional and community backgrounds, share their lived experiences, discuss challenges affecting young women, and identify opportunities for collaboration.
Creating a Safe Space for Young Women
The session brought together newly onboarded members of Hawa Feminist Coalition alongside representatives from the Baya Professional Women Network, Safe Your Daughter Initiative, and YASO Organization, creating an opportunity for young women working across professional, advocacy, and grassroots spaces to learn from one another.
A central focus of the event was creating an environment built on confidentiality, mutual respect, and openness. Participants were encouraged to engage authentically, exchange experiences, build new relationships, and explore opportunities for collaboration between young women and women-led organizations.
Discussing the Challenges Facing Young Women
The networking session also featured an interactive open-floor discussion on some of the challenges young women face in their professional, social, and advocacy journeys.
Participants explored issues including navigating male-dominated professional environments, mental health and burnout among youth advocates, systemic barriers to funding for women-led initiatives, and balancing personal safety with public advocacy.
The diverse experiences represented in the room enriched the conversation. Grassroots youth advocates shared perspectives from their community work, while young professionals exchanged strategies for resilience, leadership, and navigating professional environments.
“Youth Is the Present and the Future”
The event concluded with a reflective closing circle and a powerful message:
“Youth is the present and the future.”
The message emphasized that young people should not only be viewed as future leaders waiting for an opportunity to lead. They are already contributing to their communities, advancing social change, building institutions, and shaping society today.
For Hawa Feminist Coalition, International Youth Day was therefore more than a celebration. It was an opportunity to recognize the energy, leadership, experiences, creativity, and collective power of young women and to strengthen the relationships necessary for continued feminist and youth-led action.
Building on the positive engagement generated by the session, the Coalition will continue exploring opportunities to strengthen networking among young women and deepen collaboration with women- and youth-led organizations. The event also highlighted opportunities for future networking gatherings, partnership development, and resources responding to the challenges raised by participants.
Hawa Feminist Coalition remains committed to creating spaces where young women can connect, lead, speak openly, support one another, and contribute meaningfully to building more inclusive and equitable communities.
