Muna Hassan Mohamed, is a youth leader representing the new face of Somali youth who have become part and parcel of mainstream conversations about rebuilding their country.

At 28 years of age, Muna is the Chairperson of the Somali Youth Cluster. She sits at the apex of a national organization of youth that encompasses 43 clusters throughout Somalia. She is also the chairperson of the Mogadishu-based Hiiraan Youth Organization. Her role includes encouraging youth to contribute to Somalia’s rebirth by living upright lives.

“My vision for Somalia and for the youth today is respect for each other. We need social justice and we need resettlement of all internally displaced persons,” she says.

Muna studied political science and journalism  at a Syrian university. But she chose to return home after her graduation  to give hope to youths who are unemployedor have been abused by Al-Shabaab militants.  Her goal is to help harness their energies in the direction of more productive projects.

“I live and work in Mogadishu. The Somalia of 2006 is very different from the Somalia of today,” Muna says as she paints a picture of  strife-torn Somalia in the past  and the progressive country it has become now.

To give youth a stable foundation in life, Muna  searches for education scholarships and employment opportunities for the youth.

“Last year we gave scholarships to 23 youth in high school, while five girls from Hiiraan received university scholarships,” she adds.