- Catherine Emmanuel / U.N Photographer
- "Somali Photo Gallery"
- By Catherine Emmanuel "Warsaaw"
- Countries I 've Covered:
- Central Asia | West Africa | Central Africa | Middle East | Somali People
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Mission
The mission of SASSO is to provide culturally specific advocacy, direct programs and services, guidance and referral to enable the refugee and immigrant population to become self-sufficient. Our general goals are to help refugees and immigrants meet their basic needs and become secure and participating members of the larger community, and to help increase the capacity of the city of St. Cloud to welcome and work with refugees and immigrants
Our History
St. Cloud Area Somali Salvation Organization ( SASSO) was co-founded in October 2001 by a Somali man, Mohamoud Mohamed, and an American woman, Geneva Cole. The organization had originated as an informal network of volunteers who began assisting the rapidly growing Somali refugee population with their everyday needs in early 2001.
SASSO’s first efforts to bridge the misunderstandings between the Somali and greater St. Cloud communities began even before the official incorporation of the organization.
Immediately following September 11th, 2001, rumors spread in St. Cloud that Somali workers at a local factory had been seen cheering the destruction of the World Trade Center. Mohamoud and Geneva organized a rally and march of the Somali community to show support for the United States in late September. SASSO was officially incorporated October 15th, 2001.
Please welcome our newest staff member, Fatima-Al-Zahraa Mahfud.