Leyla Hussein

Leyla Hussein ليلى حسين
Born	1980 Somalia
Alma mater	Thames Valley University
Occupation	psychotherapist and social activist
Title	Co-founder of Daughters of Eve, Chief Executive of Hawa's Haven

Leyla Hussein (Somali: Leyla Xuseen, Arabic: ليلى حسين‎‎) is a Somali psychotherapist and social activist. She is a co-founder of the Daughters of Eve non-profit organization and a Chief Executive of Hawa's Haven.

Personal life

Hussein was born in 1980 in Somalia. Her parents were educated professionals, and she came from privileged family.

Hussein later emigrated to the United Kingdom. For her post-secondary education, she earned a degree in therapeutic counseling from the Thames Valley University. She also completed a postgraduate diploma in psychotherapy in 2010.

Hussein is a mother.

Career

Hussein has over a decade of work experience on reproductive health, with a background as a youth outreach worker. In 2010, She along with psychotherapist Nimco Ali founded Daughters of Eve. The non-profit organization was established to help young women and girls, with a focus on providing education and raising awareness on female genital mutilation (FGM). Hussein underwent the procedure at age seven, an experience which inspired her to assist other at risk girls and to call for the practice's eradication.

Additionally, Hussein is the Chief Executive of Hawa's Haven, a coalition of Somali women campaigners and community activists that aims to raise awareness on gender-based violence. She likewise runs the support therapy group Dahlia's Project, which was established in partnership with the Maya Center. Hussein also works with the Somali Youth Forum (SYF). In addition, Hussein serves as an Independent Training Consultant, as well as a Community Facilitator at the Manor Garden Health Advocacy Project.

As a health professional, Hussein works closely with the Metropolitan Police via its Project Azure. She is also an advisor for the END FGM-European campaign supported by Amnesty International, speaking in this capacity before the Cyprus, Vienna and London legislatures. In addition, Hussein sits on the board of trustees of The Special FGM Initiative Advisory Group and Naz Project London. She was in turn a UK leader on an Interaction Leadership Programme in Africa, and liaises with the YAF non-profit organization as well as non-African youth groups.

Besides her psychotherapeutic and consultancy work, Hussein has been invited to speak on matters of interest to the Somali community in various radio and television programs, including on Universal TV (Somali TV), Islamic channel, BBC, Al Jazeera and Channel 5. She has also been a guest speaker at many national and international conferences.

Awards

Hussein has received a number of awards for her work. Among these are the 2008 PCT Breaking Down Barriers Award, the 2010 Cosmopolitan Ultimate Campaigner Women of the Year Award, the 2011 Emma Humphrey Award, the Lin Groves Special Award, the 2012 True Honour Award by the Iranian and Kurdish Women's Right organisation, the BBC 100 Women of 2013, and the Ambassador for Peace Prize by the Inter-religious and International Peace Federation. The Cruel Cut, a one-hour Channel 4 documentary film that she produced on FGM, was in turn nominated for a BAFTA award.

In addition, Hussein and Ali received a community/charity award at the 2014 Red Magazine Woman of the Year awards for their work with Daughters of Eve. They also placed sixth in the Woman's Hour Power List 2014.