Fatima Jibrell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fatima Jama Jibrell
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| Fadumo Jibriil | |
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| Born | December 30, 1947 Sanaag, Somalia
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| Alma mater | University of Connecticut, University of the District of Columbia |
| Occupation | Environmental activist, filmmaker |
| Children | Five daughters, including Degan Ali |
| Awards | Goldman Environmental Prize National Geographic Society/Buffett Award for Leadership Champions of the Earth award Takreem award |
Fatima Jibrell (Somali: Fadumo Jibriil; born December 30, 1947) is an amazing Somali-American environmental activist. She helped start the Horn of Africa Relief and Development Organization, which is now called Adeso. She also co-founded Sun Fire Cooking and played a big part in creating the Women's Coalition for Peace. Fatima Jibrell works hard to protect nature and help people in Somalia.
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About Fatima Jibrell
Fatima Jibrell was born on December 30, 1947, in Sanaag, Somalia. She grew up in a nomadic family, meaning her family moved around a lot. Her father was a sailor who later settled in New York City.
As a child in Somalia, Fatima went to a British boarding school. When she was 16, she moved to the United States to live with her father. She finished high school there.
In 1969, Fatima returned to Somalia and worked for the government. She then married Abdurahman Mohamoud Ali, who was a diplomat (someone who represents their country). While her family lived in Iraq, Fatima started studying at the University of Damascus in nearby Syria.
In 1981, her husband was transferred to the U.S. There, Fatima finished her college degree in English. She later earned a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut. Fatima and her husband raised five daughters in the U.S., including Degan Ali. She also became an American citizen.
Protecting the Environment
The civil war in Somalia began in 1991. This war inspired Fatima Jibrell, her husband, and friends to start the Horn of Africa Relief and Development Organization. This group, also known as Horn Relief, is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that helps communities. Fatima was its executive director.
In 2012, Horn Relief changed its name to Adeso. Fatima retired as executive director in 2006, but she still helps the organization. She is on its board of directors and works with its programs in Somalia. Adeso focuses on helping local communities from the ground up.
Fatima also helped create the Women's Coalition for Peace. This group encourages women to get more involved in politics and social issues. She also co-founded Sun Fire Cooking. This project teaches people in Somalia how to use solar cookers. Solar cookers use the sun's energy to cook food, which means people don't have to rely on charcoal as much.
In 2008, Fatima wrote and helped produce a short film called Charcoal Traffic. This film uses a story to teach people about the problems caused by charcoal. The filmmaker Nathan Collett directed it.
In 2011, Fatima Jibrell and James Lindsay, an Australian diplomat, published a photography book. It's called Peace and Milk: Scenes of Northern Somalia. The book shows the beautiful nomadic countryside and life in Somalia. Environmental groups around the world have praised this work.
Stopping Charcoal Production
Through Horn Relief, Fatima Jibrell led a successful effort to save old acacia trees in northeastern Somalia. These trees can live for up to 500 years! People were cutting them down to make charcoal, which is sometimes called "black gold." There was a high demand for charcoal in the Arabian Peninsula. Some Bedouin tribes there even thought the acacia tree was sacred.
Making charcoal might seem cheap, but it causes big problems. It leads to deforestation (cutting down too many trees) and desertification (when land turns into desert). To fight this, Fatima and Horn Relief trained young people. These young people then taught others about the lasting damage that making charcoal can cause.
In 1999, Horn Relief organized a peace march in the Puntland region of Somalia. The goal was to stop the "charcoal wars," which were conflicts over charcoal production. Because of Fatima's efforts to talk to leaders and educate people, the Puntland government banned charcoal exports in 2000. The government has made sure the ban is followed. This has led to an 80% drop in charcoal exports!
Awards and Recognition
Fatima Jibrell has received many awards for her work against environmental damage and desertification.
- In 2002, she won the Goldman Environmental Prize. This is a very important award for people who work to protect the environment at a local level.
- In 2008, she received the National Geographic Society/Buffett Foundation Award for Leadership in Conservation.
- In 2014, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) gave her the Champions of the Earth award for her environmental work.
- In 2016, Fatima Jibrell also received the Takreem Award for Environmental Development and Sustainability.
See also
In Spanish: Fatima Jibrell para niños
