Message From the Chair

Support Somaliland (SS) was extremely active during 2004-2005.
During the yearSS continued to play a key role in supporting Somaliland
health care and educationalinstitutions. Our activities have included raising
funds for an operation theatre in Hargeisa Group Hospital (HGH), SS also
contributed to the construction of University of Burao (UB) campus.
In addition SS provided 10 salary sponsorships for cleaners in HGH.

During the year Support Somaliland received several delegations in Cardiff
and Bristol. In October 2004 SS welcomed a delegation from Hargeisa
Regional Health Board (RHB) lead by Mohamed Hussein Abby the Chair
of the board, also included were Dr. Yasin Arab Abdi the director of HGH
and Amina Yusuf Arr a member of the RHB. The delegation attended two
fundraising events in Cardiff and Bristol.

Support Somaliland also welcomed to Cardiff Pro-Chancellor of University
of Burao, Dr. Sacad Ali Shire, accompanied by three other members of
UB-International Support Committee (Ahmed Waqaf, Asha Abokor and Fadumo
Adan). SS organised two fundraising events in Cardiff and Bristol to raise
funds for the new University.
On 26th June 2005 Support Somaliland have organised an event marking the
26th June celebration and raising funds for Gollis College. SS invited prominent
figures from Somaliland including Ahmed Y. Duale a former minister for education
of Somaliland Republic and Dr. Saeed Ahmed Hassan, founder of Gollis College.

This was truly exiting year for the organisation. We as the members of the SS
board took important decisions on the future of our organisation, which we
believe sets SS on course to greater things. Throughout 2004 and 2005 we
continued to make good progress on implementing our strategies and decisions
and building on our strengths. 2004 witnessed the endorsement of the SS
constitution. The draft interim of Memorandum and Articles of Support Somaliland was amended and finally approved by the board.

In September 2005 the annual general meeting (AGM) for Support Somaliland
was held in Cardiff and a new chair, vice-chair and secretary were elected
and the treasurer was re-elected.
On November the 8th 2005 Support Somaliland was registered as a non-profit
organisation (Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England
& Wales; Company Number 5616171). The next milestone for SS is to
register at the Charity Commission and receive charity status.

Support Somaliland recently received invitation from Cardiff County Council
to attend Cardiff Volunteering Event as part of the Cardiff City’s centenary
(1905-2005) celebration. The event was held on 29th November 2005
in Jury’s Hotel, Cardiff. Support Somaliland was represented by
Nuradin M.A. Ahmed (SS chair), Zakariye Abdi (SS Vice-chair)
and Abdi Arwo (SS Board member) who attended the event on behalf of SS.
Present in the event were The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Councillor Jacqui Gasson
and Councillor Judith Woodman. This year Cardiff is celebrating its centenary
as a city, and marks its Golden anniversary (50 years) as the capital of Wales.

Support Somaliland is currently a member organisation of Somaliland
Societies in Europe (SSE). In September 2005 SSE have held its 1st
SSE international Conference with the theme of “United in making a
difference: Somaliland Communities in Europe (Diaspora) and
Somaliland” http://www.sse4.com the event took place on 1st-2nd
September 2005 at The Royal Institute of International Affairs in London.
Four-member delegation from SS attended the conference to represent SS.
SS is also a member organisation of Voluntary Action Cardiff
(VAC) http://www.vacardiff.org.uk/.

Thus far the projects carried out by SS were solely funded by funds raised
from the Somaliland community, having now registered the organisation SS
will now work on and pursue to receive grants from donor organisations
(e.g. Foundations, Statutory Bodies). Gaining grants would of course allow
SS to put into operation urgently needed projects in Somaliland. Examples
of intended projects that require resources are:

· Extending the pilot project of Hargeisa Group Hospital to other hospitals in Somaliland.
· Providing university sponsorships to students from poorer background families.
· Organising Skills-exchange programs.

SS continues to remain strong and active in the areas that matter to our members
and the Community at large and these are EDUCATION & HEALTHCARE.
Thank you for your Support, advice and contributions over the past year and
we hope and anticipate your continued Support in the coming years.