Hodo Hassan, from her father's 'No!' to the door of Parliament
Growing up in Somaliland, Hodo Hassan consistently outperformed her two older brothers at school. But when the time came for university, her father made the choice so many families make: he prioritised her brothers. Hodo was expected to stay home. She refused.
"It pained me to hear my father denying me the opportunity and preferring my brothers. I knew I was academically gifted, but if I would not fight, culture would condemn me to the same fate other girls in Somalia and Somaliland have suffered," said an emotional Hodo.
With the support of her uncle, Hodo fought the decision and won. She enrolled, persevered, and this year graduated from law school with outstanding marks - once again the strongest student in the family.
Yet a degree alone couldn't unlock the doors that structural barriers keep shut. That's where SPA II came in.
Through ActionAid, Hodo found more than training - she found a movement. As an active member of the Global Platform leadership, she helped shape the direction of youth organising in Somaliland, contributing to collective strategies on feminist leadership and climate justice alongside peers across the region. This wasn't a passive role. Hodo co-facilitated feminist leadership trainings for young women in IDP settlements, moderated national climate justice dialogues, and represented youth at regional forums earning formal recognition from the Ministry of Youth. That journey from trainee to leader, from activist to institution gave her something no classroom could: the confidence and legitimacy to step into formal political spaces.
Today, Hodo Hassan is preparing to run for parliamentary office in the upcoming elections. Her story is proof that when young women are given real opportunities to lead - not just seats at the table, but genuine power within movements - they don't just rise. They go back and lift others.
