The Somali Women's Association (SKF) is a voluntary organization that was established June 13, 1988.
The Association aims to work for Somali youth, women, men and children to realize opportunities inherent in growing up in a multicultural society, and thus develop as good societal citizens. The Association also works for Somalians to have a better life in Norway.
The Association works with schools, social welfare, child welfare, outreach sections and other immigrant organizations to create better understanding of Somali culture and ways of thinking for positive solutions.
Activities
• Organizing volunteer help and contacts with isolated families.
• Facilitating Koran groups focusing on health and women rights from an Islamic perspective and their practical applications.
• Facilitating sewing groups and health education groups for youth and women.
Projects
• Bridge Builder Project - to rehabilitate young prisoners from Somalia and Pakistan in Oslo Prison, by acting as "Bridges" amongst their family and societal networks. "The bridge" works towards the Norwegian aid apparatus and probation. Solution-oriented dialogue sessions were facilitated in meetings with the in-mates.
The second part of the project is to learn more about the immigrant's environmental attitudes and actions against crime in their own environments.
The last part of the project is to contribute to competence-building through course offerings for collaboration partners.
• Female Genital Mutilation - To contribute to the change in attitude regarding FGM among Somalis who still adhere to, and practice the ritual.
• Family Planning - To initiate the processes in which objective information and knowledge about the body, sexuality, relationships and contraception can spread in the participants' own network.
• Job training - To create a sense of belonging and participation by forming special interest groups of Somali single mothers, Somali men with long-term unemployment and young girls and boys who are unemployed.
• Sunflower - To establish a resource network that could provide single Somali mothers with children, relief, and an environment where they could develop self-help strategies to improve their living situations.