Our Mission

We believe in empowering Somali women to become professionals who drive development throughout their community.

Barwaaqo’s first phase focuses on a School of Education that will turn young Somali women into leaders in the classroom, who will then go on to educate the next generation of Somali youth across the country.

Learn More About Our Mission

WHO WE ARE

Barwaaqo is a high quality, women’s boarding university in Somaliland that aims to change the trajectory of opportunities for young Somali women who will go on to rebuild a nation.

The founders of Barwaaqo led the incredible success of the Abaarso School, a 7th-12th grade, co-ed boarding school in Somaliland whose graduates have received scholarships to top universities such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Brown and MIT. Barwaaqo will replicate the Abaarso model of strong academic fundamentals and core character values of integrity, tenacity and critical thinking.

Najah Saeed

Administrative Assistant

Raquel Freile

Faculty of Maths and Social Sciences

Gabriella Harris

Faculty of English and Social Sciences

Nora Harless

Finance Director and Faculty of English and Maths

Hamda Hussein

Faculty of Health and Maths

Christina Bowden

Director of Education and Faculty of English

Nimco Ahmed Ismail

Dean of Student Life and Faculty of Social Sciences and Education

Ava Ramberg

Co-founder and Executive Director

Jonathan Starr

Co-founder

News & Updates

Press Releases

CNN Money - Posted 2 years ago

Somaliland students to Trump: You're destroying our dreams

President Trump's decision to ban the citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries has jeopardized the university dreams of hundreds of students from the self-declared republic of Somaliland.

The Huffington Post - Posted 2 years ago

Helping Immigrants Build Somalia’s Future, One School At A Time

The Huffington Post reports on SAFE’s contribution to Abaarso School.