Elmi’s story

Elmi Abdi is almost 56 years old. Since 2015, he has been the President of the Foundation for Somalia – an organisation which supports refugees and migrants in Warsaw.

At the turn of 1990 and 1991, after the overthrow of dictator Siad Barre, civil war broke out in his country. Elmi has been a young vet, recently graduated at that time, looking forward to star his adult life.

– One day gunshots came close to my neighbourhood. My house wasn’t very solid, so I ran to the port, hiding in a boat – says Elmi. To hide from gunshots, the boat capitain took it to the sea. As it turned out later – not to come back. Five years and four countries later, Elmi arrived to Poland.

In 2005, he got involved in helping other migrants.
– I know from my own experience what it’s like to be in a foreign country – he says. – That’s why the Association was founded.