SOYDA Somaliland Youth Development Association

SOYDA
Goljano Street- 26 June District,
Hargeisa,
Somaliland

soyda_ed@yahoo.com
www.soyda.org (Under construction)

SOYDA is a local non-political, non-profit and non-governmental organization established on 2001 dedicated to promote the rights of vulnerable youth and children through awareness raising, advocacy peacebuilding  and human rights education.
 
The target group of SOYDA is youth, children and the marginalized people throughout our working environment. SOYDA particularly engages in Somaliland geographical area where awareness raising programs, humanitarian activities and peace building initiatives are on progress.
 
SOYDA was founded by young volunteers dedicated to create a practical change in the context of human rights, peace building and conflict management through education and advocacy campaigns to prepare a civilized society that boast of peace prevalence and compete in development programs.
 
The collaborative efforts of SOYDA are mainly focused on the preservation of human rights and promotion of culture of peace building and conflict transformation in Somaliland society with the intention of creating sustainable peace and prevent the arousal of destructive conflicts. In addition, our activities incorporate child rights protection and promotions programs and youth empowerment projects aiming at preparing responsible young citizens equipped with the culture of respect and peace pioneers.
The success/achievements realized since the foundation period are included but not limited to the following:

Peacebuilding

SOYDA being an active member of united network of young peace builders (UNOY) commemorates and organizes peace events including the following:

• Organized  training seminars by  educating  young people with the culture of peace  and conflict resolution
• Prepared public dialogues and symposiums about the importance of peace, contribution of youth to durable security and prevention of violence and all kinds of insecurity
• Conducted peace building programs during the celebrations of the International day of peace.
  

Human Rights

Human Rights Projects implemented:

• SOYDA regularly organizes human rights training seminars by targeting young people as to respect and defend  human rights
• Conducts human rights awareness programs through media and public gatherings
• Monitors and documents Human Rights violations in Somaliland.
• Conducted number of projects in Human rights promotion and protection including IDMA, Promoting  prisoner’s rights, population movement tracking and others. These projects have been in action for the last years and currently in progress. In carrying out these projects the human rights situation of our geographical intervention has been somehow improved.

Produced a hundreds of bio-monthly child rights magazine copies addressing child rights issues and educating the children with their basic rights enshrined in the    national constitution and other international instruments such as the universal declaration of human rights, and the Convention of the  rights of the child (CRC) and other instruments.

Youth Empowerment Activities

We have facilitated youth participation activities in the decision making process of the country. In effect, SOYDA has participated lobbying campaigns lowering the age of those having political inclinations to 25 instead of 35 for local council candidates. There is a motion in progress that is about to raise in the parliament reducing the age of the desiring young politicians and generally advocating for the right of the young political participation in all regards.
 
SOYDA has created vocational skill training centers to enhance youth employment opportunity. These centers are functioning both in Hargeisa and Gabiley regions and already produced highly skilled people that will definitely change and contribute to the developmental programs of the country.  

SOYDA commemorates the international day of peace

SOYDA commemorates the International day of peace in year 2008


The Vice Minister of Justice attends the celebration of the international day of peace 

The commemoration of the international day of peace

SOYDA conducts Media awareness raising Training Seminar

SOYDA conducts Symposium on child rights protection for Media groups