A Somali heritage festival in Birmingham drew families from across the city and beyond for a weekend of music, poetry, traditional dance and food.The programme included performances by Somali musicians, a poetry evening featuring both established and young poets, and workshops on henna, traditional weaving and calligraphy. Food stalls served dishes such as sambuusa, bariis and canjeero to long queues of visitors.<h2>Bridging generations</h2>Organisers said a key aim was to help young people born in the UK connect with the language and art of their parents and grandparents. A youth poetry competition invited entries in both Somali and English, and several finalists performed pieces mixing the two languages. "My grandmother recited poems to me on the phone. Now I am writing my own," said one young finalist.The festival also welcomed visitors from other communities, many attending for the first time. Local councillors and community leaders praised the event as an example of how cultural celebrations can bring neighbours together.A family area kept younger children busy with storytelling, face painting and traditional games, while older visitors gathered for a discussion on Somali oral history. Several grandparents shared memories of the songs and poems they grew up with.Volunteers who ran the weekend said they hope to expand next year's programme with a book stall, film screenings and a stage for school groups.This is demo content for testing the Warar website. It is not a real news report.

A Somali heritage festival in Birmingham drew families for a weekend of music, poetry, dance and food, celebrating culture across generations.

Somali heritage festival brings music, poetry and food to Bi

Organisers said the event was designed to help young people born abroad connect with the language and art of their parents.

Somali heritage festival brings music, poetry and food to Birmingham

Groups of diaspora volunteers in Europe and North America are collecting donated books and shipping them to schools in Somalia, where many classrooms have few reading materials beyond basic textbooks.The volunteers run collection drives at mosques, community centres and local schools, sorting the books by age group and subject before packing them into boxes. They focus on children's stories, simple science books, dictionaries and Somali-language titles.<h2>New libraries in old classrooms</h2>Receiving schools have turned spare classrooms and corners of staff rooms into small libraries, with shelves built by parents and local carpenters. "When the boxes were opened, the children gathered around as if it were a celebration," said a head teacher at a primary school that received one of the shipments.Teachers said they now hold weekly reading sessions and allow pupils to borrow books overnight, encouraging families to read together at home. Some schools have started reading competitions to keep students motivated.Volunteers check every box before it is sent to make sure the books are in good condition and suitable for the age group. They also include notes from the children who donated them, which pupils in Somalia have started answering with letters and drawings.The volunteers say shipping costs are their biggest challenge and they are looking for businesses willing to sponsor containers. They are also working with Somali writers to print more local-language children's books, which they say are in particularly high demand.This is demo content for testing the Warar website. It is not a real news report.

Diaspora volunteers in Europe and North America are collecting donated books and sending them to school libraries in Somalia.

Diaspora volunteers collect donated books for school librari

Teachers receiving the shipments say many pupils are holding a storybook of their own for the first time.

Diaspora volunteers collect donated books for school libraries in Somalia

A volunteer mentoring network is linking Somali professionals in the diaspora with university students in Somalia, offering regular online advice on careers, study choices and job applications.Mentors working in fields such as engineering, nursing, accounting and software development are paired with students studying similar subjects. Pairs meet by video call once a month, and mentors also review CVs and help students prepare for interviews.<h2>Advice that is hard to find</h2>Students say the guidance fills a gap at universities where career services are limited. "My mentor explained how to write a proper CV and which skills employers look for. Nobody had told me that before," said a final-year student in Mogadishu who hopes to work in public health.For mentors, the programme is a way to give back without leaving their jobs. A civil engineer in Toronto said he spends a couple of hours a month on calls but gets a great deal from hearing about the challenges and ambitions of students at home.Several students have already used advice from their mentors to secure internships with local companies and organisations. Coordinators say they want to track how mentees progress after graduation so they can show the value of the programme to new volunteers.The network's volunteer coordinators say demand from students is greater than the number of mentors available, and they are appealing to more professionals abroad to sign up. They also plan to add group sessions on topics such as internships and starting a small business.This is demo content for testing the Warar website. It is not a real news report.

A volunteer mentoring network is connecting Somali graduates in the diaspora with university students at home, offering career and study advice.

Diaspora mentoring network links graduates abroad with stude

Mentors in fields from engineering to nursing meet students online each month to talk through study choices and job applications.

Diaspora mentoring network links graduates abroad with students at home

Remittances from the diaspora are a lifeline for many families. Experts say a few simple steps can keep transfers safe.<h2>Key tips</h2>Use a licensed, well-known money transfer company. Double-check the receiver's name and phone number before sending. Compare service fees and exchange rates. Be wary of urgent messages asking for money from people claiming to be relatives, and always confirm directly first.This is demo content for testing the Warar website. It is not a real news report.

Practical tips for the Somali diaspora on how to send money home safely: choose licensed providers, confirm the receiver and compare fees and rates.

Diaspora guide: how to send money home safely

Simple steps to keep remittances safe and affordable.

Somali heritage festival brings music, poetry and food to Birmingham

Bridging generations

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