Shamsar Orphanage

In January 2015, a small media team (television journalist Rageh Omaar, cameraman Mo Dahir, stills photographer and facilitator William Oswald) visited the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Their goal was to make a balanced report, focusing on some of the more positive aspects of life there, while still recognising the ongoing violence and instability. One of the outcomes was an ITN On Assignment report, highlighting the ‘green shoots’ appearing there.

The team’s work was made possible by Abdirahman Omar Osman, a selfless politician who went on to be Mayor of Mogadishu, but was tragically assassinated in 2019.