Hussein Abdi Abdullahi founded the International Development & Humanitarian Organization (IDHO) in partnership with Kristine Lynch on October 22, 2016. It is a Washington-based non-profit and non-governmental organization that works to improve the living conditions of the war-torn area located in the Horn of East Africa region.
The founder and managing director of IDHO, Hussein, was born in Mogadishu, Somalia. He experienced the worst conditions in his hometown and spent more than seventeen years in Dadaab Refugee Camps in Garissa County, Kenya.
IDHO’s primary purpose is to help communities in East Africa develop and grow. While other non-profit organizations around the world work on the concept of charity and donation, IDHO functions on the idea of philanthropy.
IDHO comprises of a team of philanthropists who create innovative programs and design initiatives that work for sustainable growth of communities. The team works to empower individuals as the philosophy of this foundation is “development comes from the people themselves.”
A Humanity Organization Helping Struggling Nations with Self-Help Initiatives
The founding principle of IDHO is to equip members of the society with the necessary skills that can make them a significant part of community development. Instead of introducing programs and activities that bring peace momentarily, this organization works to provide long-term benefits to the struggling nations.
The programs it launches in countries, including Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya, implement and supply the basic human necessities for the poor through self-help activities. The focus of these programs is on all factors that collectively form a sustainable community. These factors that contribute together contribute to the creation of stable communities with a strong foundation include Education, Healthcare Pure Water, Sanitation, Gender equality, Human rights, Food Security, and Logistics.
Moreover, IDHO serves as a platform where people with similar mindsets can join the network and help the struggling nations find firm ground and offer their citizens a better life. It has laid the foundation of an ever-growing team, bringing ideas that create a sustainable environment.
Promoting Rights & Well-being of Children
An essential aspect of IDHO is the promotion of the rights and wellbeing of children. The children are the future leaders who help communities grow and thrive. The organization promotes the rights and welfare of every child, and all programs by IDHO are assisting children in developing academically and mentally.
The efforts of IDHO and the team take up a practical approach and puts in special efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and neglected children. It realizes the need to empower the children in weak East African communities and works to the benefit of all children, everywhere. The international non-profit organization takes a life-cycle based approach, recognizing the particular importance of early childhood education.
Focusing on Building Social Capital
While most of the non-profit organizations and governments of the first world focus on helping weak nations build monetary capital, IDHO focuses on building a social community. The managing director of IDHO stated, “I strongly believe that building a social capital unites out communities for a better future.”
The concept of social capital is synonymous with building a social network that connects individuals. According to Robert Putnam, it is “connections among individuals – social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them.” IDHO works on this very concept as it can work wonders in developing a healthy community.
Importance of Women Empowerment
A rime focus of IDHO is empowering women to become leaders of the future. In countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, and other East African countries, there is not much focus on female education. Women are discouraged from getting an education or stepping into the professional sector.
The humanity organization, IDHO, works to address this issue in the Horn of East Africa region. Hussein and his team work together to introduce programs that spread awareness about the importance of female education and empowerment. They work to launch initiatives that provide opportunities for girls to be a part of the sustainable development of their community. Designing educational programs and encouraging females to stand on the front line of leadership are some of the ways IDHO promotes women empowerment in susceptible and vulnerable East African nations.
International Development & Humanitarian Organization is one of the few international non-profit organizations that work on developing a community as a whole. It works on an approach that helps them create a sustainable environment that prepares weak communities for future growth and development.