On 1^st October 2024, the Darlington Foundation held an event in the Maansoor hotel. Please click here to see photos of the events

The main purpose of the event was   to commemorate the achievements of the Foundation in the thirteen years since it was set up. The event brought together Ex-sheikh secondary school graduates, key figures in Somaliland society, alumni of the Darlington scholarship program, current scholars of the program who are studying at various universities, a range of local and international non-governmental organizations that operate in Somaliland, government officials, and representatives  of the Somaliland media. 

Former students of the Sheikh Secondary School who participated in the event were:

His Excellency Abdirahman Aw Ali Farah, former second Vice President of Somaliland

Professor Abdi Ismail Yonis

Mohamed  Sheikh Hassan Tan, Chairman of Somaliland Central Bank Trustees Board

Professor Suleiman Dirir Abdi,  the Chairman of the Somaliland Higher Education Commission

Dr Abdillahi Sheikh Mohamed, Consultant Physician and former founding Dean of the Medical  Faculty Burao University  

Ahmed Hussein Abby former Senior Officer of the Somaliland Central Bank

Mohamed Barud Ali, Chairman, Somaliland Mental Health Commission

Ibrahim  Mohamed Haji Hassan, Country Director and Geologist, Genel Energy Somaliland

Mohamed Osman Ahmed, Director Somaliland Maritime Coordination Commission

Dr Adna Adan the Founder and Chairman of Adna Adan hospital and Adna Adan university.

Professor Cadaad

Khalif Sheikh Omer Chief Executive Office, Somaliland Banking Association

Mahmud Awil Ibrahim Member of Somaliland Central Bank Trustees Board

Awil Sharif  Managing Director, Dhabshiil Motors

 Presentations and Discussions:

The event was opened by The Vice Chairman of the Somaliland Higher Education Commissioner  Professor  Abdi  Ismail Yonis   who is a Representative and Advisor for the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He welcomed participants and thanked them for their attendance.   He paid tribute to Richard Darlington and described his remarkable history in Somaliland. Richard was a British Military Officer in the Second World War who lead Somaliland  soldiers in  battles  fought in  Burma. He was wounded during the war, but Somaliland soldiers saved his life and took care care of him. After the war, he decided to live in Somaliland and contribute to education in the country. He started teaching at Amoud Secondary School and later he moved to the newly-built Sheikh Secondary School. Professor Abdi Ismail Yonis concluded by thanking the Foundation for its work and for maintaining Richard’s legacy.

 Then, Professor Eid Ali Ahmed Co-founder and Chairman of the Foundation highlighted the progress of the Foundation since its establishment 13 years ago and said:-

 “The Foundation is successful and continues to evolve in the way that was envisaged in 2012.  Eighty two students have been sponsored by the Foundation for university studies, with 58 having already graduated. These young people are now contributing to society and the economy of Somaliland through various roles and jobs. These students are from all the regions of Somaliland and are recruited fairly on merit,  based on their secondary School examination results, and with due consideration also being given to of the economic disadvantage of their families.  We hope to expand the Foundation in future and support more students. To facilitate this, we are going to register locally and open an office in Somaliland”.

 Dr. Edna Adan  praised the Foundation for it's achievements and for it's tremendous support to Somaliland students and said: 

“I wish to thank the Darlington Foundation and Professor Eid. I welcome the number of students that the Foundation now sponsors and their efforts.  She added that she appreciated those who work for the development and progress of Somaliland”.

There was then a panel session with 6 graduates of the Foundation.

Members  of the Panel 

They each spoke about how the Foundation had helped them during their university studies

1. Dr Hassan Ahmed: ‘When the foundation contacted me I was planning to go abroad for education but I then decided to stay in the country and continue my education and today I am a fully qualified doctor’.
2. Farhan Farah Ali: ‘my family resides in the countryside and I used to live with my aunt during my study at secondary school. I was always worried about how I’d get to university and fund my studies.  Fortunately, Professor Eid contacted me and told me that I had won a scholarship from the Foundation for studying at a university of my choice.  I was so pleased, and registered with  Burao university and continued studying and performing well until my graduation.  Just after my graduation I got a job in marketing and now I am a marketing manager. 

3.Eng. Guleid Hassan Ahmed: "Before the Darlington Foundation contacted me I was planning to get a job first and start university a year later. However, fortunately, the Foundation gave me this wonderful opportunity and I stopped everything else and concentrated on my studies."

4.Miss. Naema Ibrahim Omer:  "When I graduated from  high school I got the same grade as a close friend got. But the Foundation told us that they could only fund one of us. However, we persisted. Finally the Foundation accepted our request and thanks Allah  today both of us graduated by the scholarship given to us."

5.Miss. Hayat Mohamed Abdillahi: "Thanks to the Darlington Foundation for the opportunity and thanks to the Chairman of the Foundation, Mr. Eid Ali Ahmed, for the encouragement he gave us when we were studying at university. In the future, I would like to take part in the development of the Foundation in return.".

 6. Dr. Ahmed Abdirahman: "I heard about the Darlington scholarships from a friend and then tried to find out how to get one. Then I transferred from Hargeisa secondary school to Odwayne secondary school. With hard work I was the top student in Odwayne region and won the scholarship. I have finished at university and have a job.".

After the panel session,

Professor Suleiman Dirrir Abdi , Chairman of the Somaliland Higher Education Commission spoke about his teacher Richard Darlington. He described how Richard used to pay the fees of the students who could not afford to pay them themselves. He also used to check on their health, ensure there was a playground for physical exercise and even act as a referee for football or hockey games. He added that he was delighted that the Foundation was supporting the ‘best of the best’ from all regions and he promised his continuing support to the Foundation.

Mr.  Khalif Omer, Managing Director of Somaliland Banking Association,  underlined and welcomed the Foundation’s mission and highly appreciated the progress and the achievements of the scholarship program. He suggested some ideas to strengthen and support the work of the Foundation, and said 

“This is a unique and unparalleled Foundation in Somaliland and should be highlighted more. The commercial banks will contribute a lot to the development of the Foundation. And on behalf of  the commercial banks we will take our part in the development of the Foundation. He  added that  the main merchants, local NGOs, International NGOs, and Government should take part in the development of the Foundation, too.” 

 Dr. Hamd Mohamed Issa, Country Representative of Global Health, highlighted that the contributions of the Darlington Gacmadheere Foundation to Somaliland students can be felt through the testimonies of the scholarship recipients.  The scholarships play a pivotal role in levelling the playing field and removing some of the financial barriers to university, nurturing home-grown talent. He looks forward to seeing the Foundation grow and continue offering educational opportunities for Somaliland’s next generation of leaders.

Next,  in a panel session Ex- Sheikh Secondary Students including Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Tani and Dr Abdillahi Sheikh Mohamed appreciated the achievements and on-going progress of the Foundation and praised the good work of the trustees of the foundation and its vital admin and operational team. Alsothey emphasised that Richard Darlington  was a kind, helpful, and proactive person who had contributed enormously  to Somaliland education.

Finally, His Excellency Abdirahman Aw Ali Farah, the former second vice president of Somaliland and an Ex-sheik secondary school student concluded the event and said loudly and clearly that the Foundation has made great progress since its establishment 13 years ago. He described how  Richard Darlington was a really good teacher and used to love the students who were good at education and sports.  He strongly recommended that the Foundation should get support from different sides and not rely solely on Professor  Eid. He asked the floor to offer any suggestions for how the Foundation could be supported and developed. The resulting action points were:-

1. Continuation of the Darlington Foundation in Somaliland from generation to generation.
2. Registration of the Foundation locally especially with The Ministry of National Planning.
3. Creation of a society for Alumni of the scholarship programme.
4. Local fund raising and making contact with Somaliland’s big merchants.
5. Setting up an office for the Foundation in the near future
6. continuation of the Darlington get-together events yearly in the coming future.

Finally, His Excellency Abdirahman Aw Ali Farah, and Professor Eid Ali Ahmed awarded appreciation certificates to the organizers of the events and thanked all the participants of this well attended and successful event.