Our Founders
Co-Founders Overview
Amoune Omer & Mahamud Elmi
Co-Founders
The Somali Hope Foundation was co-founded by Amoune Omer and Mahamud Elmi, who were born in Somalia and arrived in Canada as refugees. They know first-hand the power of education, community, and hope. They are determined to share the transformative opportunity of education with youth in Somalia and around the world.
Mahamud and Amoune married in 2006 and have three children together. When Mahamud and Amoune met, they were two individuals with different upbringings who shared many similar traits. They shared a great love for giving back to others. Their experience as immigrants to Canada means that both of them appreciate the privilege of possessing things that many around the world are unable to enjoy; for example, education, which is why they decided in 2008 to begin to build and open a school for children in rural Somalia. They specifically chose rural areas since those tend to be forgotten and public services always arrive there last. As soon as they realized that goal, they began organizing fundraisers. As a result of the continued and supported efforts of the Somali Hope Academy Community in Ottawa and around the world, over 700 students (girls and boys) receive a free, high-quality, and equitable education. Without the support and generosity of our Ottawa community and all over the globe, this project would not have been possible. They are immensely proud of this achievement and grateful for all the support they have received and hope to continue to receive as they move forward. They would like to thank you all from the bottom of their heart on behalf of Hope Academy’s students and community education committee members.
Amoune Omer
Co-Founder | Executive Director
Amoune Omer is a dedicated wife and mother of three, as well as a passionate advocate for the Somali Canadian community both in Canada and abroad. Having arrived in Canada at the age of five, Amoune has grown into a visionary leader and a respected member of her community. She also brings nearly two decades of experience in the Canadian federal government.
Her outstanding contributions have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including:
- The Deputy Minister’s Merit Award,
- The Employee Recognition Award,
- The King Charles III Coronation Medal
- The Hero’s of the Horn of Africa Award
Amoune understands the privilege of opportunities, like education, that are unavailable to many worldwide. In 2008, alongside her husband, she committed to making a difference and co-founded the Somali Hope Foundation where she is the current Executive Director of he Foundation. Together, they established and grew this initiative, building a primary, middle, and high school in Bursalah, a rural town in Somalia. They established the Hope Academy School in 2012 with an enrollment of 93 students. The foundation provides free, high quality and equitable education to children in the rural communities in Somalia. Their sustainable community-based approach and strong partnerships have enabled the foundation to expand. Additionally, Amoune and her husband built a water well, providing clean water to both the school and the surrounding community. Her focus on rural areas stems from her awareness of the limited resources often afforded to these communities. From the outset, As an Executive Director she tirelessly organizes fundraising gala dinners, building relationships within Canada and using her platform as Somali Canadians to make a meaningful impact back home. Her vision for the Somali Hope Foundation is to offer free, high-quality, and equitable education to Somali children—both boys and girls—so they can reach their full potential and give back to their communities and the world. Thanks to Amoune’s dedication, now over 1,100 children are attending Hope Academy primary and high school. The foundation’s work has received numerous international acclaims, including selection as one of five charity recipients of the “Walk A Mile In My Shoes” campaign by Sabrina Dhowre Elba, her husband Idris Elba, and world-renowned designer Christian Louboutin. The foundation received $400,000 for their remarkable work. In 2023, the Somali Hope Foundation was nominated for the International Somali Award in Turkey, a testament to its profound and lasting impact. Her work with the Somali Hope Foundation brings pride and credit to Canada.
