At Skills Active Forward (SAF-UK), we believe that the most powerful force for change is a committed individual. As a women-led, Somali NGO rooted in the communities we serve, we offer unique, ground-level volunteer opportunities that put you at the heart of our mission. This isn’t just volunteering; it’s a chance to contribute your skills directly to building a more resilient Somalia.
When you volunteer with us, you become part of something bigger. You will:
Make a Tangible Difference: Move beyond theory and see the direct impact of your work on the lives of Somali families.
Gain Invaluable Experience: Immerse yourself in the humanitarian and development sector, gaining practical, field-based experience in a challenging and rewarding context.
Learn from Local Experts: Work alongside our dedicated Somali staff and community leaders, gaining deep cultural insights and understanding of locally-led development.
Be Empowered: We value your ideas and initiative. You will be given meaningful responsibilities and the support to see them through.
Join a Community: Become part of a passionate network of change-makers committed to creating a better future for Somalia.
We are looking for passionate and skilled individuals to support us in the following areas. Opportunities are available both in-field (within our operational areas in Somalia) and remotely.
Public Health Assistants: Support our health and nutrition teams with community outreach, data collection for mobile clinics, and hygiene promotion campaigns.
Education Facilitators: Assist in teacher training programs, develop basic literacy/numeracy teaching aids, or help set up youth mentorship programs.
Livelihoods & Agriculture Assistants: Work with our field teams on climate-smart agriculture projects, support vocational training workshops, or help with small business development for women and youth.
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Support: Help us track our impact by designing surveys, analyzing project data, and visualizing results for reports.
WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Engineers: Provide technical input on water point designs, sanitation facilities, and develop maintenance training for community WASH committees.
Grant Writing & Proposal Assistants: Lend your writing skills to help us develop compelling funding proposals and reports for our partners and donors.
Communications & Media Volunteers: Help us tell our story! Capture photos/videos (where safe and appropriate), write blog posts and success stories, and manage our social media content.
Translation: Translate documents between English and Somali.
Research: Conduct desk research on specific topics (e.g., climate adaptation techniques, best practices in pastoralist livelihoods).
Digital Skills Training: Develop and deliver basic digital literacy training modules for our staff or community members.
Graphic Design: Create infographics, reports, and awareness-raising materials.
We are seeking individuals who embody the following:
Passionate about community development and humanitarian work.
Respectful of local cultures and committed to learning from them.
Adaptable and able to work effectively in a dynamic, sometimes challenging environment.
Proactive and able to work both independently and as part of a team.
Skilled in one of the areas mentioned above (specific requirements will be detailed per role).
Note: For in-field placements, priority is often given to Somali nationals or those with prior experience in the region, but we encourage all passionate individuals to apply.
Ready to join us? The application process is simple:
Review Open Positions: Check the list of currently available volunteer roles below or contact us for potential future openings.
Prepare Your Application:
An up-to-date CV/Resume.
A thoughtful Motivation Letter (max 1 page) explaining:
Why you want to volunteer with SAF-UK specifically.
Which area you are interested in and what skills you can contribute.
Your availability (start date and duration).
Submit: Send your CV and Motivation Letter to our dedicated volunteer email: volunteer@safuk.org.
Our team will review your application and contact shortlisted candidates for an interview.
