
About Us
The Somali Community Network is a women-led community service co-operative based in Surrey, British Columbia, serving Somali families across the Lower Mainland.
SCN was formed in response to persistent gaps in culturally relevant services, legal literacy, and community care. Somali families continue to navigate the impacts of exclusionary immigration policies and systemic barriers rooted in anti-Black racism and Islamophobia.
As a co-operative, our work is grounded in shared leadership, cultural knowledge, and collective care. We center community voices and design programs that foster healing, strengthen identity, and build intergenerational capacity.
From mental health education and cultural preservation to legal rights workshops and systems navigation, SCN offers responsive, community-led programs that reflect lived experience and promote equity.
We are building sustainable infrastructure that addresses both present-day needs and the structural conditions that create them. Our goal is to lay the foundation for a just, connected, and thriving Somali community.

As a young co-operative, SCN has quickly become a trusted presence within the Somali community across the Lower Mainland. Our programs are rooted in joy, cultural pride, and collective care. These are tools that not only heal but also strengthen identity and connection in the face of systemic barriers.
We have hosted cultural dance classes for mothers and girls that promote wellness and celebrate heritage. Our mental health events have created space for Somali women to learn, connect, and ask questions in culturally safe environments. During Ramadan, we brought the community together through shared iftars, and we commemorated Somali Independence Day with a vibrant, community-led celebration.
Each program has been shaped by direct community input, and the response has been deeply affirming. Families return, ask for more, and express how long they have waited for spaces like these.
These milestones reflect what is possible when communities are resourced to lead their own solutions. With sustained investment, SCN is ready to expand this impact. We are committed to addressing current gaps while building a more connected, culturally grounded, and equitable social landscape in British Columbia.
Our Impact So Far
“Haween la’aan waa hoy la’aan.”
Translation: There is no home without women.
This proverb speaks to the essential role women play in holding families and communities together. At SCN, we honour and uplift women as the backbone of collective growth. We create safe, inclusive spaces where they are supported, celebrated, and empowered to lead with confidence.
We are committed to expanding our impact by addressing critical gaps facing the Somali community. Our priorities include reducing social isolation among elders, fostering intergenerational connection, and creating accessible summer programs that equip Somali youth with tools for success.
We are also working to bridge systemic gaps by connecting Somali families to essential resources, including housing support, healthcare, legal education, and social services. Rooted in a tradition of collective care, SCN draws on generations of Somali knowledge systems that emphasize mutual support, shared responsibility, and community-led solutions.
As a co-operative shaped by lived experience and guided by those we serve, we believe that lasting change begins within the community itself. Our approach centers the voices of those most impacted, ensuring programs are both responsive and relevant. By deepening our partnerships with aligned organizations, we are building toward a future where community infrastructure is not only sustainable but self-determined.
Our long-term vision is to establish a vibrant community centre that runs regular programming, preserves cultural heritage, and offers safe, equitable space for Somali families across British Columbia.
Our Next Steps
A Celebration of Heritage: Dhaanto Performance by The Somali Museum Youth in Minnesota.