Ifrah Ahmed

Ifrah Ahmed (Somali: Ifraax Axmed, Arabic: إفراح أحمد‎) is a Somali-Irish social activist. She is the founder of the United Youth of Ireland non-governmental organization and the Ifrah Foundation.

Ifrah Ahmed
إفراح أحمد
Born
Somalia
Occupationactivist
TitleUnited Youth of Ireland/ Ifrah Foundation

Career

Ahmed was born in Somalia. In 2006, Ahmed left Mogadishu at the age of 17 after war broke out. She evaded traffickers and was granted refugee status in Ireland in 2006. Ahmed established the United Youth of Ireland, an NGO for young immigrants, and the Ifrah Foundation, which is devoted to eliminating female genital mutilation (FGM).[1] Since 2016, she is Gender Advisor to the Prime Minister of Somalia [2]

In 2010, Ahmed established the United Youth of Ireland. The non-governmental organization provides support to young immigrants in their business, artistic and creative pursuits.[1] Through Ahmed's Foundation, she continues to advocate for the eradication of FGM in her native Somalia. Her work includes raising awareness through producing media content to highlight the negative impact of FGM. In July 2018, in collaboration with the Global Media Campaign to end FGM, Ahmed produced a short documentary on the death of 10 year old girl due to complication resulting from FGM

Additionally, Ahmed has been involved in organizing various events, workshops, fundraisers and seminars.[1] In 2014, she was also a guest speaker in support of the documentary Girl Rising by Richard E. Robbins. The showcase was part of the Development Film Series held at the University College Dublin.[3] Ifrah Foundation has partnered on impactful projects with international NGOs, and has formed strategic partnerships with governmental agencies on policy and legislation. Her focus over the past four years has been to deliver programs in Somalia providing evidence-based results that inform Ifrah Foundation’s scoping of its proposed national action plan for the abandonment of FGM/C in Somalia.

Ahmed was awarded with a People of the Year Award in 2018 for her work.[4]

Media portrayal

A biopic about Ahmed, A Girl from Mogadishu, starring Aja Naomi King and Barkhad Abdi was in production, shooting in Ireland and Morocco and premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival in Scotland.[5][6]

References
  1. "Ifrah Ahmed, campaigner". Because I am a Girl. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  2. McTeirnan, Anthea. "Woman who sought asylum in Ireland to advise Somali PM". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2019-02-18.
  3. "Documentary - Girl Rising - Guest Speaker: Ifrah Ahmed". UCD Student Centre. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  4. Freyne, Patrick (15 April 2018). "People of the Year awards honour Irish 'ledgebags' of the year". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  5. McNary, Dave (October 25, 2017). "'How to Get Away With Murder's' Aja Naomi King to Star in 'A Girl From Mogadishu'". Variety. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  6. Tartaglione, Nancy (October 25, 2017). "'A Girl From Mogadishu': Aja Naomi King Leads Female Empowerment Story – AFM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
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