Meet our Volunteers: Abdifatah Abdi

Abdi was born in Somalia a few years after the collapse of the Somalia government. He lived most of his life in Kenya. He is the first born of seven and first generation college graduate. He fluently speaks English, Swahili and Somali. Abdi graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health-Global Health.

In the last 3 years, he was deeply involved and have volunteered for different community-based organizations and currently works with Somali Health Board. As a new immigrant himself, he has experienced how health disparities disproportionately affect new immigrants in King county. As a public health graduate, he is concerned on how new immigrants’ health is determined by their race, income, zip code and neighborhood and how that has a profound impact. He is interested in eliminating health disparities, promoting health equity and strengthening resilience in underserved communities. With health boards and organizations like Afghan Health Initiative advocating, providing resources and creating inclusive environment for services, I believe the above-mentioned barriers can be addressed and maximum potential health can be achieved.