Recent Activities

Candlelight Sheikh Office conducted six days of training for 10 Community Animal Health Workers selected from 5 villages ( Ximan, Dawdama, Iskudar, Cagaarey and Hudiso ) in Sahil region. The project is supported by KNH and aimed at contributing to the national target of increasing the average weight of animal heads by December 2021, through supporting pastoral communities with the required skills and necessary tools to prevent and diagnose animal diseases. At the end of the training, the participants are provided with CAHWs tool kits.

Livistona carinensis is a palm species occurring in Somaliland, Puntland state of Somalia, Djibouti, and Yemen. The species is noted in the IUCN Red List as endangered and possibly extinct from Somalia.

Livistona stands in Somaliland are concentrated in Gudmo-biyo-cas seasonal watercourse in Sanaag Region.

Major threats include unsustainable harvesting of trunks for construction, petioles, and leaves for thatching, basketry, and mat-making. The expanding farming activities along the watercourse will not allow Livistona to thrive, as farmers clear it to make way for farming. Moreover, it is apparent that replacement of old trees is not possible due to a lack of immediate successors.

Candlelight for Environment, Education, and Health (CEEH) has started a conservation work aimed at saving the species from extinction. Candlelight is building a fence around the Livistona trees stand in Gudmo-biyo-cas village as a protective measure from goats browsing young saplings and human trampling. By limiting access, it is hoped that successor trees will start to thrive on the site. The activities will also include propagation of Livistona seeds and community awareness on the importance of the species.

Candlelight would like to thank the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund for their support, which made this project possible.

Candlelight has launched a transformative program to empower 150 participants, particularly women and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds in urban and peri-urban areas of Togdheer Region. This initiative offers valuable technical and vocational training in fields such as plumbing, tailoring/garment production, and electrical installation/maintenance.

In Phase One, 75 participants will undergo training over a period of six months (November 2024 – May 2025). The program combines practical technical skills with business development training, including entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

Upon completion, graduates will receive:

Certification

Toolkits

Startup capital

Ongoing mentorship

This program aims to:

Enhance income levels and create job opportunities

Empower women in male-dominated fields

Contribute to community development

Align with national TVET strategies and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on poverty reduction and decent work

By emphasizing sustainability, Candlelight is fostering resilience and creating new economic opportunities for marginalized groups in Somaliland.

These photos show tailoring trainees during their practical sessions.

With the support of Kindernothilfe, Candlelight engaged 130 amazing students from two schools (Qaadi Mohamoud and Suufi Osman Schools) in a dynamic student-led competition focused on raising awareness about child protection and children’s rights in Burao, Togdheer region.

Through a creative drawing contest, the students not only tested their knowledge of child rights but also led the event themselves, showcasing their leadership and collaboration skills.

This program is all about empowering young voices and creating a future where children’s rights are understood and protected.

We are excited to announce the successful establishment and launch of a Village Saving and Loan Association (VSLA) in Duruqsi, Togdheer region.

With the support from the European Union, Candlelight embellished and provided comprehensive training to the VSLA members, equipping 25 community members with the tools to manage their finances, access savings and offer loans within the group. This initiative is empowering individuals, strengthening families and fostering economic growth. 

The VSLA has officially elected its management team consisting of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary. This team is ready to lead the way, ensuring the association thrives and provides financial support to all its members. 

Together, we’re building a stronger, self-sustaining community that can overcome financial challenges and create brighter futures for all. 

 With the support of Development Fund Norway, Candlelight recently completed an impactful 9-day training on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) at three key project sites in Awdal Region: Magalo-cad, Magalo-qaloc, and Garbihadley.

A total of 90 participants (30 from each village) took part in this transformative training which aimed to equip them with the knowledge and tools to promote GESI within their unique local contexts.

Training Objectives:

• To increase awareness and understanding of gender equality and social inclusion concepts.

• To identify and address gender-based discrimination and social exclusion issues in communities.

• To empower participants to advocate for inclusive practices and policies.

• To strengthen participants’ capacity to lead community-level initiatives promoting GESI.

Through awareness-building and practical skills development, Candlelight is helping to build stronger, more equitable communities where everyone regardless of gender can thrive.

Rangelands, essential ecosystems for wildlife, livestock and the planet’s health are under threat from overgrazing, deforestation, climate change and soil erosion leading to severe degradation. However, rangeland restoration offers hope for recovery.

With the support from the European Union, Candlelight conducted awareness campaign on rangeland restoration in three project target villages including Riyo-xidh, Gorayo-xun and Druqsi in Togdheer region.

We conducted group counseling sessions across 10 rural villages in Togdheer region. These sessions focused on promoting best practices in hygiene, sanitation, Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), nutrition, health, and immunization. The outreach covered various villages and IDPs including Beer, Booraamo, Boodhlay, Qoyta, Kabadheere, Kaam Barwaaqo, Mulac, Duhur, Daan Bari, and Abdi Geedi in Burao district, Todheer region.

The group counseling sessions aimed to emphasize key practices including:

•Encouraging regular handwashing with soap and water, especially before eating, after using the toilet and handling waste.

•Promoting optimal feeding practices for infants and young children, such as breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and ensuring adequate nutrition.

•Demonstrating practical food preparation techniques and educating on balanced diets for overall health and development.

•Addressing general health issues relevant to the community or group.

•Emphasizing the importance of vaccinations in disease prevention, understanding immunization schedules and addressing concerns or misconceptions.

•Identifying signs of illness in infants and facilitating early referral.

•Enhancing knowledge of female reproductive health and hygiene.

•Recognizing high-risk pregnancies and immediate management with early referral.

•Providing information on family planning methods.