In July 2005 the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) committed itself to the development of an initiative called “International Sustainable Development Framework”.

The Welsh Assembly Government’s Sustainable Development Action Plan has already committed WAG to work with Non Governmental Organizations in the development sector to identify a positive Welsh contribution to the Millennium Development Goals, and also includes a commitment to make Wales a Fair Trade Country.

The MDG-Group was formed to act as an advisory group to the Welsh Assembly on issues concerning Wales’s roles and contributions towards achieving the MDGs. The Somaliland Societies in Europe (SSE) is a member of the advisory MDG-Group.

SSE and Support Somaliland have both participated in the Torfaen Summit 1. Several other international organizations have also taken part in the event including Oxfam Cymru, UKOWLA and Dolen Cymru – Wales Lesotho Link, as well as many local voluntary organizations and community groups.

SSE was represented by the chairman of SSE, Eid Ali Ahmed, and Abdi Duale Elmi who has traveled from Germany to attend the Summit. Support Somaliland was represented by the chairman of Support Somaliland Nuradin Mohamed Abdi, and Abdiqadir Adan-Dheere, Treasurer of Support Somaliland.

The event which was very well organized started at 10:00 am, and was opened by Nina Finnigan, Chief Officer of Torfaen Voluntary Alliance. Nina has thanked and welcomed the participants of the event and she talked about the purpose of holding this crucial summit and the importance of meeting the Millennium Development Goals. Ms Finnigan has also said this event has put Torfaen and Wales on the world stage.

Nina has then passed the microphone to the chair of the morning session Kemi Nevins of the WCVA who welcomed Graham Benfield, the Chief Executive of the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA). Mr. Benfield has emphasized the role of the Welsh voluntary sector in meeting the MDGs. Mr. Benfield has stated that MDG-Group decided the twinning of Somaliland and Lesotho to Wales, which means Welsh Voluntary organizations will be working very closely and creating partnerships with Somaliland and Lesotho local NGOs in order to meet the MDGs.

Eid Ali Ahmed, Chair of SSE and Deputy Chief Executive of Welsh Refugee Council and a Keynote Speaker at the conference has addressed the Summit. Mr. Ahmed has delivered a presentation on creating Global Partnerships “The African Prospective” and highlighted the importance of twining the Welsh voluntary organizations and the Somaliland NGO’s. Eid has illustrated the example of the partnership work between Support Somaliland and SOYDA which is already making deference at ground level.

Jon Townley of the Welsh Assembly Government has addressed the Summit. Mr. Townley who is responsible the Fair Trade and International Development aspects of the Assembly’s Sustainable Development Action Plan has outlined the Assembly’s commitment to help deliver the UN Millennium Development Goals. Mr. Townley spoke at length about the significance of Fair Trade and the impact of Welsh Public Sector procurement on the developing world.

Other speakers at the morning session included Dr. Nick Maurice Director of the UK One World Linking Association (UKOWLA), Craig Owen of the Oxfam Cymru, Cathrin Daniel Executive Director of Dolen Cymru, Emma Davies of Tai Hafan, Dr. Goef Lloyd G.P. of Mbale in Uganda and Robin Samuel of Christian Aid.

After that, questions and answers session has followed and the audience have asked the panel different questions ranging from Fair Trade to MDG, and Torfaen to Somaliland.

Following the Q&A session several workshops entitled “True Stories” were held. A total of seven workshops were carried out including that of Dolen Cymru, Oxfam Cymru, Support Somaliland, Tai Hafan, Toradio, UKOWLA, and Wales Fair Trade Forum. Support Somaliland’s workshop was facilitated by Nuradin Mohamed Abdi.

In the workshop Support Somaliland presented its work in Somaliland and partnerships with SOYDA. Support Somaliland has provided the salary of ten sanitation workers (cleaners) in the Hargeysa Group Hospital (HGH) since 2004. Support Somaliland has also carried out several fundraising activities in Cardiff and Bristol including fundraising events for HGH, University of Burao and most recently for Gollis College.

At lunch time participants spent their time in viewing stalls including Support Somaliland’s and listening to African drumming by Boke Karavan. The afternoon session was chaired by Eid Ali Ahmed. Further workshops were held in the afternoon entitled “Making it Happen”.

Support Somaliland’s workshop was facilitated by Nuradin Mohamed Abdi and the afternoon workshop was interactive discussions and involved brainstorming session on how Torfaen Voluntary organizations could help in the work of Support Somaliland. All the ideas were noted and action points were drawn up. The workshop was also generated a lot of interesting questions about the Republic of Somaliland from the participants.

After the workshops were concluded, all the action points from the workshops were presented and a panel consisting of the facilitators of the workshops were asked questions about the action points.

The Somali poet, Professor Mohamed Hashi Dhamac “Gaariye” accompanied by two members of the Somaliland community in Cardiff Mohamed Jameeco and Abdikariim Gamuute has arrived at the Summit. Gaariye has read his famous poem Mandela in Somali and translation of the poem was read by Ingrid Wilson Community and Human Rights activist & Education Consultant. As Wales waged relentless and effective campaign against South Africa’s apartheid and for the release of Nelson Mandela the poem was very much received by the audience and generated huge applaud for the legend “Gaariye”.

Prof. Gaariye composed the poem in 1980 and recited it at a Global Event for the 60 th birthday celebration for Nelson Mandela. Since that time the poem was not translated into English and was not published either.

In October 2005 Prof. Gaariye got the opportunity to tour Europe last year and managed the poem to be translated by the famous English poet David Harsent who received the Forward Prize for his English poetry English Collection. During the tour Gaariye took part WORLD POETS' TOUR giving readings and workshops at some of the leading poetry and literature festivals in the country (in Beverley, Brighton, Cardiff, Derby, Durham, Edinburgh, Ilkley, Manchester, Sheffield). He also toured some Scandinavian countries including Norway and Sweden.

At the end of the Torfaen Summit, prize draw and presentations were conducted. Gaariye and Eid were chosen to draw the prizes. An extraordinary and a miracle has happened as Gaariye picked up a ticket from the box containing the tickets and the winner turned out to be the very lady (Ingrid Wilson) who volunteered to read his poem in English just moments ago.

Support Somaliland will be honoring Prof. Gaariye by giving him the Honorary Membership of Support Somaliland. The certificate of the Honorary will be presented to Prof. Gaariye on Saturday 21 st January 2006 on his poetry night at the Cardiff County Hall.

The Torfaen Summit was finally closed by the Chairman of Torfaen Voluntary Alliance who thanked all the people who participated in the Summit and the Chairman said the event was brilliant and successful and it turned out to be better than expected.

The Chairman also said a report about the Summit will be published on March by Nina Finnigan of the Torfaen Voluntary Alliance.

Support Somaliland would like to take this opportunity to thank all those people and organizations who were involved in the preparation of the Summit and all those who made it happen. We would also like to extend our congratulations to the organizers and the host of this successful event, Torfaen Voluntary Alliance.

Nuradin Mohamed Abdi,

Chair, Support Somaliland

20 th January 2006