The Somali Digital Media Academy (SODMA) recently organized a unique Somali language course for professional immigrants from Yemen and Sudan. This course, named the “Tawaasol” program, is the first of its kind in Somalia, specifically designed to teach the Somali language to Arabic speakers. The graduation ceremony for the first group of students was attended by several notable Somali government officials, representatives from the Ministry of Education, and media professionals, making it a significant event.

During the ceremony, Abdihman Yusuf Hassan (Bukhari), the Director-General of the Academy, emphasized that the main goal of the program was to build a bridge of communication between Arabic-speaking professionals and the Somali community. He mentioned that there was an urgent need to teach the Somali language to Arabic speakers and expressed the Academy’s willingness to collaborate with relevant authorities to expand this project into a national program.

The graduates, who work in important sectors like medicine and engineering, were awarded certificates upon successfully completing the course. The participants and guests described the program as a pioneering national initiative, stressing that it should have been supported by the state. Bukhari also promised to organize more courses in the future to broaden the program’s reach.

Dr. Abubakar Haji Khalifa, Director of the Sharia Institutes Unit at the Ministry of Education, praised the initiative, stating that learning the Somali language would help these professionals integrate better into Somali society. The course instructor, Mr. Mohamed Osman Ibrahim, who developed the curriculum, was also honored during the ceremony. The participants expressed their appreciation for his dedication, calling the experience unique and enriching, and were proud of the results they achieved.