"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." Sir Winston Churchill

Due to civil war that has spanned over three decades and the subsequent lack of a formal government in Somalia, a country on the eastern coast of Africa, coupled with South Africa’s favorable immigration policy towards refugees, South Africa became a refuge for several thousand Somali nationals.

Migration to a new country, particularly in the large numbers and with the socio-economic hardships that were part of their existence, came with challenges both for the immigrants and the host country.

There was an urgent need to mitigate these circumstances to ensure acceptance by the local communities as well as integration that would ensure that the migrants did not become a burden on their host country but in fact, a major contributor to the economy and development of the nation.

For the Somali people, culture, tradition and religion embody their very way of life. This includes their language, foods and cuisine, their way of dress and houses of prayer, the Mosques.

For the discerning businessmen, this phenomenon brought a host of business opportunities. Mohammed Abdi Mohammed, a young entrepreneur born in the small town of Embu at the foothills of Mt. Kenya, in the Republic of Kenya, but with family roots in Somalia, is one such businessman. 

Mohammed realized that the Somali community’s pressing needs were for the provision of the following:

•  Accommodation

•   Groceries

• Communication

• Travel

• Education

He therefore sought to serve his community by customizing his services to meet his customers at their point of need. This has translated to the following companies and subsidiaries:

1. Rental properties and guesthouses
2. Travel & Tour company
3. Supermarkets  
4. A school and an institute
5. A consulting company
6. Bulk airtime sales

For Mohammed, a successful, down-to-earth businessman, social responsibility is not an abstract principle but a passion. He created Mohads Foundation, an NGO, to serve his community both Somali and South African, from a compassionate, social and humanitarian perspective. This includes providing advice, guidance and a ready support network for immigration, health and work-related issues. A free community legal clinic has been the culmination of his immediate dream, but he feels there is still a great deal more to be done.

“The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.”

-John Maxwell