ALIGHT

• Alight was founded in 1978 (originally under the name American Refugee Committee, ARC). Wikipedia+1
• On June 21, 2019 they rebranded and changed their name from ARC to Alight. Wikipedia+1
• Their headquarters is in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Wikipedia+1
• Their official mission: to “walk alongside those — by sheer circumstance — who find themselves displaced” and help them rebuild meaningful, dignified lives. guidestar.org+1

🌍 What Alight Does — Their Main Activities & Services

Alight delivers humanitarian aid to displaced people, refugees, and other vulnerable populations around the world. Their programs aim not only to address immediate emergency needs, but also to support long-term stability, dignity, and self-sufficiency. wearealight.org+2wearealight.org+2

Their core services include:

• Health care — primary care, reproductive health, immunizations, disease prevention & control, emergency medical care, maternal & child health. wearealight.org+1
• Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) — ensuring access to clean water, sanitation infrastructure (latrines, wells, water systems), hygiene promotion, environmental health services. wearealight.org+2GiveMN+2
• Shelter & Camp-management — building shelters, temporary / transitional housing, community kitchens or common structures; managing refugee/IDP camps; coordinating services and logistics for displaced populations. wearealight.org+1
• Emergency response & crisis relief — responding to disasters, conflicts, refugee flows; mobilizing rapid-response teams to deliver aid where needed. wearealight.org+2Wikipedia+2
• Protection & support for vulnerable groups — addressing gender-based violence (GBV), protection, legal or social support, psychological/social services when needed. wearealight.org+2Millie+2
• Livelihood, social enterprise & economic empowerment — vocational training, small business support, social-enterprise models to enable displaced people to build sustainable incomes and regain independence. wearealight.org+2wearealight.org+2
• Education & community development — formal and non-formal education programs, especially for children; adult education or vocational training for livelihood building. wearealight.org+2classic.wearealight.org+2

🌐 Global Reach — Where Alight Works

• Alight currently operates in 20+ countries worldwide, including many in Africa, Asia, Europe, and elsewhere. guidestar.org+2classic.wearealight.org+2
• Their 2023 organizational summary notes over 2,300 humanitarian staff, and that they serve 4 million+ people each year across those countries. classic.wearealight.org+1
• Among the countries are nations affected by conflict, displacement, disasters — and they also work in countries of origin, host countries, or transit countries for refugees. guidestar.org+2Devex+2
• Particularly relevant to you: they have a program in Somalia / Somali Peninsula, delivering health, WASH, protection, education, and livelihood support. wearealight.org+2Millie+2

💡 Their Approach / Philosophy

• Alight emphasizes a “human-centered” and “co-creation” approach — meaning they aim to work with displaced people, not just for them. They treat displaced people as “customers,” putting their voices and choices at the center of decision-making. wearealight.org+2Devex+2
• They aim to go beyond basic needs — not only providing emergency aid, but also long-term support for dignity, self-sufficiency, empowerment, and community resilience. guidestar.org+2wearealight.org+2
• Alight values continuous improvement, innovation, respect, dignity, and community-driven solutions. wearealight.org

🎯 Why Alight Matters

• They provide lifesaving help (healthcare, water, shelter) for millions of displaced people and refugees worldwide — especially in crisis zones.
• They support long-term recovery and stability — enabling people to rebuild their lives with dignity, education, livelihoods, and hope.
• Their inclusive, participatory approach helps displaced communities have a voice, dignity, and agency — not just passive recipients of aid.
• For countries like Somalia (and regions you know: Horn of Africa), their work can have direct local impact, helping vulnerable populations, IDPs, refugees, where governmental reach might be weak.