The Somali Advocacy and Relief Organization (SARO) is a youth-led, rights-based humanitarian organization founded in 2014 by young Somalis who witnessed firsthand the immense suffering caused by decades of conflict, inter-clan violence, and natural disasters.
For over ten years, SARO has stood at the frontlines of crisis response and community transformation across Lower and Middle Juba and South-Central Somalia reaching the most vulnerable, the most forgotten, and the most in need.
We believe that sustainable change begins from within. That is why SARO was built by the community, for the community rooted in local knowledge, guided by local realities, and powered by the passion and vision of Somali youth.
Our work spans lifesaving humanitarian response, sustainable livelihoods, equitable education, primary healthcare, WASH, child protection, legal assistance, and democracy and human rights advocacy. At the heart of everything we do is the empowerment of women, girls, and marginalized communities because we know that when youth lead, communities transform.
When disaster strikes the neglected regions of the Jubba valleys, SARO does not wait. We respond creatively, efficiently, and with deep respect for the communities we serve. Our participatory approach ensures that the people we work with are never passive recipients, but active partners in building their own future.
Over a decade of service has earned SARO something no funding can buy the trust of the communities we serve.