We have gotten some more info about the charity in Somaliland. The organisation does not have a website yet and they solely depend on personal support for the time being. Unfortunately we can also not name the peaceful organisation, as that might get them into trouble since their proect in Somaliland has been terminated by the UN and condemned by the militant groups. It's best not to risk their safety in both ways. Our friend also insisted if we could help the 8 Somali staff employees that were part of her project and which they had to leave behind in Hargeisa. They have been unemployed since and all have families to feed. One of employee is even in the hospital. For this critical reason, any help we can give is very much appreciated.
We want to split the money evenly so that both the organisation as well as the unemployed staff can be aided.
Some more information about 1st organisation (*names are changed for security reasons)
GUD* is a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit making national organization. The organization was formally founded in November 2007 with the technical and financial support of Somaliland intellectuals and traditional leaders who were, and still are, fully engaged on peace building, conflict resolution and promotion of human rights. The founders and top management team were engaged on similar activities since 2003 in their earlier capacities in another LNGO (HS LNGO) which they separated themselves from during the last quarter of 2007 as they established GUD.
They initiated the launching of the Advocacy program of Human Rights, Peace and Environment focused on the Somali Customary Law (Xeer) with direct involvement of the grass root traditional leaders as the major agents of change to amend the harmful customary codes and put them in alignment with the international human rights standards. After the initial successes of the Advocacy program in the Togdheer region and the replication of the experience in Hargeisa region they established a professional local NGO to keep the programma alive.
In establishing Hornpeace this deficit was sought addressed by opening a conduit for the traditional system and international organizations to work together on a broad specter of issues. These issues were being ignored by other international organizations operating in Somaliland. They have various branches in different regions and are looking to more progress in the Somaliland peace cause.
