On May 19, 2025, a powerful step toward safer digital spaces for young women in Somalia took place in Garowe. At the request of Hawa Feminist Coalition, a dynamic, youth-led feminist movement, Bareedo Platform delivered an intensive digital security training for 35 young feminist activists.

This initiative aimed to strengthen the capacity of emerging women leaders to navigate online risks, protect their digital identities, and continue their advocacy safely in an increasingly connected world.

Building Safer Digital Spaces for Women Activists

Women activists often face disproportionate risks online—ranging from harassment to targeted cyberattacks. Recognizing this reality, the training was carefully designed to address gender-specific digital vulnerabilities while equipping participants with practical, actionable skills. The training covered seven essential modules, each tailored to empower participants with knowledge and tools for digital resilience.

1. Understanding Digital Risks and Online Threats: This session highlighted both the common and gender-specific risks women face online, emphasizing how gender-based vulnerabilities make women more frequent targets in digital spaces.
2. Protecting and Securing Mobile Phones: Given the central role of mobile phones in daily communication and activism, this module focused on practical phone security.Participants learned how to create strong, secure passwords, adjust privacy and security settings, back up important data, use account recovery optionsand enable “Find My Phone” features. A live demonstration introduced essential tools such as antivirus software, permission management, Secure Folder, and Google Play Protect. Special emphasis was placed on avoiding harmful apps and carefully reviewing app permissions.
3. Securing Messaging Apps and Email: Messaging platforms and email accounts are often entry points for cyber threats. This session provided hands-on guidance for securing commonly used tools. Participants practiced enabling two-factor authentication, strengthening passwords, configuring recovery options and identifying phishing messages and suspicious links. They also learned how to block and report abusive users, as well as how to respond safely to scam attempts.
4. Securing Social Media Platforms: Social media plays a crucial role in activism, but it also exposes users to risks. This module focused on protecting accounts across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.Key topics included login alerts and notification settings, password security and authenticator apps, managing personal data visibility (age, location, contact details), controlling who can view posts, tags, and profiles. Participants were also trained to report and block harassment and impersonation, prevent misuse of personal content, including risks like non-consensual sharing as well as manage digital footprints by deleting location history and disconnecting third-party apps. A practical demonstration showed how to recover compromised accounts and regain control after security breaches.

Strengthening Feminist Leadership Through Digital Safety

This training was more than a technical workshop—it was an investment in the safety, confidence, and leadership of young feminist activists in Somalia. By equipping participants with essential digital security skills, Bareedo Platform and Hawa Feminist Coalition are helping to create a generation of women who can advocate boldly and safely, both online and offline.

As digital spaces continue to shape activism and social change, initiatives like this are critical in ensuring that women are not only present—but protected, empowered, and leading.