Horn of Africa People’s Aid

07/10/2025

It was inspiring to hear from Phil Tulba of The Ubele Initiative and learn about their impactful work in England. I'm confident that we can draw valuable lessons from their success and implement similar strategies here in Northern Ireland. I would also like to extend my gratitude to SCI and DTNI for organising this important event.

Today we welcomed Phil Tulba from The Ubele Initiativefor a discussion on community wealth building with members from our Black Activist Leadership programme and local community organisations.

The event was organised by Charlie Fisher from the Development Trusts NI and hosted by Social Change Initiative.

Phil shared Ubele's work supporting African diaspora-led asset and enterprise development in London, including the Wolves Lane Centre and the GIDA housing co-operative. The session explored how community wealth building principles - around asset ownership, enterprise development, and social infrastructure - can be applied to support black and minoritised communities in Northern Ireland.

Suleiman Abdulahi from Horn of Africa People’s Aid also presented Retreat Housing's work providing affordable, culturally sensitive housing solutions for refugees and migrants.

Key themes included:

✅ Breaking down barriers to capital and social investment
✅ Creating infrastructure support for diverse communities
✅ Developing culturally appropriate investment models
✅ Building recognition for the economic contributions of minoritised communities

Thanks to everyone who joined and shared their experiences. Lots to think about from today's conversation.👏

01/09/2025

13/08/2025

We’ve supported over 3,000 people across Northern Ireland in the past year. 💚

That means:

✅ 440+ families received emergency aid
✅ 1,100+ SIM cards distributed to help people stay connected
✅ 100+ children supported through our youth programmes
✅ 100+ volunteers stepping up across Belfast and beyond

These numbers aren’t just stats — they’re stories.

Of families finding safety.

Of neighbours reconnecting.

Of refugees building a new life with dignity.

This is what happens when we come together.

This is the power of community.

Because of you, vulnerable families in Northern Ireland have a safety net.

Please continue to support our work: https://hapani.org/?form=FUNDVNVYDNZ

06/08/2025

Community isn’t built in a day. But it can be felt in one.

This weekend, we hosted our second Summer Celebration in Ormeau Park, and it was filled with joy, connection, and powerful conversations.

We shared food, music, and stories.

Strangers became neighbours.

And for many, it felt like the first time they were truly seen.

Thank you to everyone who came, volunteered, and stood in solidarity with newcomers across Northern Ireland.

This is the kind of community we want to keep building.

One where no one feels left behind.

28/07/2025

Shelter’s latest report confirms what many in our community already know:

🔴 Black people are 12x more likely to live in temporary accommodation.
🔴 They’re often offered housing that’s lower quality, far from their support systems.
🔴 And when they raise concerns, they’re ignored — or worse, punished.

Racism in housing isn’t always loud.

Sometimes it’s subtle. Delayed. Denied.

But the result is the same: instability, isolation, and unsafe homes.

Housing isn’t just about shelter. It’s about dignity.

And everyone deserves to feel at home — no matter their background.

Read the full report from Shelter via the link in bio.

Share this post to help us raise awareness.

24/07/2025

Over 1,800 racially motivated crimes were reported in Northern Ireland last year.

Some families are waking up to threats. To attack. And even fire.

All while their neighbours remained silent.

Many refugee and migrant families continue to face that fear and exclusion –

From language barriers to housing insecurity and digital isolation.

At HAPANI, we step in with shelter, language classes, and safe spaces for children. In the past year alone:
✅ 3,000+ people supported
✅ 440+ families received emergency aid
✅ 1,100 SIM cards distributed
✅ 100+ children engaged through youth programs
✅ 100+ volunteers across Northern Ireland

This is urgent. This is real.

Stand with us — not tomorrow. Today.

Support vulnerable families now. https://hapani.org/?form=FUNDVNVYDNZ

22/07/2025

Trigger Warning: Racism, Violence, Sexual Assault

What happened in Tallaght wasn’t an “incident.”

It was a violent racist attack.

It was public, brutal, and deliberate.

A group of 30 to 40 people stripped, beat, and degraded an Indian man in broad daylight.

They rammed his head into a lamppost.

They tore off his clothes.

They stole his phone.

They filmed him while he bled in the street.

Gardaí later confirmed he was wrongly accused. He did nothing wrong.

This is terror.

This is what far-right vigilantism looks like – unchecked and encouraged by silence.

State inaction signals complicity.

Silence from neighbours strengthens the abusers.

We stand with every person who refuses to look away.

And we stand with the victim – not just in words, but in action.

19/07/2025

Nafeesa fled war. Then she faced homelessness with a disability.

When her asylum accommodation ended, she had nowhere to go.

No accessible housing. No kitchen. No help.

She moved into a hotel she couldn’t afford. She carried bags she couldn’t lift.

A friend brought her to HAPANI. From that moment, she didn’t have to do it alone.

Thousands of people like Nafeesa are trying to rebuild from nothing.

They don’t need grand solutions - just someone to show up when it matters.

Thank you for helping us do that. 💚

16/07/2025

Being a refugee or asylum seeker is not a
weakness.

It’s not an identity that defines someone.

It’s not a label that limits what they’re capable of.

But too often, we treat it like it is.

It doesn’t cancel their skills, ambition, or power.

Yes, many arrive vulnerable. But they carry courage, clarity,
and determination.

They’re rebuilding in a system that wasn’t built for
them, and still, they keep going.

Let’s shift the narrative.

Let’s stop confusing survival with fragility.

Refugee doesn’t mean broken. It means strength.

11/07/2025

Refugees flee because they face a choice between life and death.

War, violence, and persecution force many to leave everything behind.

At HAPANI, we meet families who make that choice every day.

We provide housing, English classes, job search support, and advocacy.

This support helps families rebuild and start fresh with dignity in Northern Ireland.

Share this video to help more people understand why refugees flee.

Want to support our work? Visit the link in bio.

Want to support our work? Visit: https://hapani.org/?form=FUNEVPFSFGR

🎥:

07/07/2025

We’re hosting powerful community events all summer, and you’re invited! 💚

HAPANI is bringing together refugees, asylum seekers, and local families to share space and stories across Northern Ireland.

Register NOW: https://form.jotform.com/251838546733264

🌟 Hear and share powerful stories
🌟 Meet incredible people with lived experience
🌟 Celebrate culture through food, music, and games

Let’s build a more connected Northern Ireland, one where everyone feels seen, supported, and at home.

🤝 Bring a friend, a neighbour, or a family member and show up for your community!

📍 Ormeau Park, Belfast
📅 Saturday 26 July & Saturday 23 August
🕐 1:00–6:00pm
🚍 Need transport? Call 07706 156864

📅 Register NOW: https://form.jotform.com/251838546733264

04/07/2025

Killing children is war crime of all times.