Somalia. Image credit: CIA Factbook
Metropolitan State alumnus Said Salah has raised over $10,000 to help provide famine relief to those in need in Somalia.
His interest in helping with famine relief began in 2014, when his uncle called from a rural area of Somalia. He explained to Salah that there has been a long drought that has greatly impacted his family and others in his community as well. There is an unfortunate massive food and water shortage. The conversation made Salah consider what he could do to help others in need like his uncle.
Salah began to put together events for fundraising. Among the many fundraising efforts, he organized a “Hoops for Hope” and a “Dollar for Dishes” event. Part of his goal was not just to raise money for famine relief, but to create an awareness of the need for it as well. Salah worked with the American Relief Agency for the Heart of Africa to connect his fundraising efforts with an agency who is working to help those in small African communities like the one Salah’s uncle lives in. Salah also stated that there were four or five Somali-owned businesses in Minnesota that helped to raise funds for his cause.
Salah plans to travel to Somalia in July to see his fundraising in action and to help with distributing food and water supplies. He is excited to make this journey and see all of his hard work come to fruition.
Salah graduated May 1 from Metropolitan State with an Elementary Education degree. He hopes to start fundraising for relief in Ethiopia after his trip to Somalia.