6 | Acquisition International, April 2025 Transforming Communities One Programme at a Time Providing guidance and advice for people living within London’s minority communities, the Kulan Sumali Organisation is a charity dedicated to providing holistic support for those in need. Its team have been working tirelessly for more than two decades to benefit citizens from global majority backgrounds, especially those of Somali and Bravanese heritage. Discussed in more detail below, this work has led to the charity receiving the title for being the Best Youth Support NPO 2025 – London. Contact: Roda Jama Warsama Saeed Company: Kulan Somali Organisation Web Address: https://www.kulankso.org/ Delivering a number of unique services designed to benefit and offer comprehensive support to some of the most underprivileged members of UK society, the Kulan Somali Organisation (KSO) prides itself on being confidential, culturally sensitive, and, above all, a person-centred non-profit organisation. Its offerings span online and face-to-face support as part of a bigger group or meetings on a one-to-one basis, as well collaborative sessions including the likes of training, workshops, and forums. Alongside general advice and advocacy for members of these groups – a service comprising everything from guiding people down the right path to building their confidence – the fantastic work that KSO does can be split into three categories: youth programmes, family support, and women’s programmes. As the title we have afforded KSO suggests, it is these youth-oriented services that have particularly caught our eye, this on the back of the transformative impact this work is having in these young people’s lives. KSO’s youth programmes are based around the aims of engaging young people and ensuring they have access to exciting educational opportunities – helping them to become productive members of society when they grow up whilst also inspiring them to work towards being leaders in their communities. From building digital skills to helping in job searches, this part of KSO’s portfolio is crucial in nurturing lasting change, eventually fostering a society where everyone is rightfully treated as equals. “Our charity stands out because we take a holistic and community-driven approach to empowerment. By addressing health, wellbeing, and leadership development, we create sustainable change rather than just short-term solutions.” Uplifting global majority communities from within, KSO stands out from other NPOs as a result of its forward-thinking ethos. This sees its team do more than just provide support – they build spaces where individuals can connect, grow, and ultimately thrive for years to come. An encompassing philosophy such as this transcends its youth programmes, applying also to its female-specific programmes, which are likewise focused on attending to their needs in both the present and the future. Beyond its more long-standing programmes, KSO also delivers a series of initiatives and projects throughout the year, with these enabling it to further achieve its goals. Just one of the recent examples of this was its Empowerment Through Wellness campaign, a project that saw the team deliver a number of health and wellbeing workshops for the women at the centre of the UK’s global majority communities. The interactive and culturally relevant nature of these sessions made the initiative a tremendous success. As a spokesperson for the charity explains to us: “These workshops are designed to offer comprehensive support by combining practical health insights with empowerment strategies. Participants not only gain valuable knowledge about physical and mental wellbeing but also build a supportive network with peers facing similar challenges.” The gains are both immediate and then ongoing, with many members of these workshops having gone on to lead their own initiatives, leading to an empowerment ‘ripple effect’. With this amazing charity always looking ahead, a nameless representative tells us of its plans to create a digital wellness platform, which will allow it to expand its services and reach more people in need. An online hub for interactive health and wellbeing resources, the platform will have content tailored for different focus groups and allow people to connect and share their experiences. Complementing this undertaking is a pilot project that will focus on community leadership and an upcoming youth empowerment summit. “In response to the growing interest among young people, we’re organising an annual summit focused on leadership, innovation, and community engagement. This event will provide a space for our youth to learn, network, and collaborate on creative solutions to their challenges.” Ultimately, everything from the female empowerment workshops it runs through to the youth empowerment initiatives it spearheads promote welcome changes in London’s global majority communities and beyond, making the Kulan Somali Organisation more than deserving of a place in this feature.
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