Our story
Why Biyo Hope exists.
Where it begins
A childhood in Somalia.
Biyo Hope Foundation begins with Halima Mohamed’s childhood in Somalia. She grew up through conflict, displacement, and refugee life — years when a family could not count on safety, on food, or on clean water.
Those years taught her what going without really costs. It is not only thirst. It is illness that could have been prevented, hours spent searching for water, and the quiet loss of dignity that comes with not being able to provide the basics for the people you love.
In her own words
“Having survived the hardships of war, displacement, and hunger, I understand how meaningful a little kindness can be during difficult times.”
That understanding is the heart of this foundation. Halima knows that help does not always arrive as something large. Sometimes it is a cup of water, a warm drink, a clean set of clothes, or simply someone who stops and treats you with respect.
A name that means water
Biyo means water.
In Somali, biyo means water. Halima chose the name because water is where everything else starts — health, school, work, and the chance for a family to plan beyond today. Hope is what she wants every family to feel when the basics are finally within reach.
Buffalo, our home
Rooted in Buffalo. Water across Africa.
For more than twenty years, Buffalo has been Halima’s home. Since 2020 she has watched community organizations and volunteers come together to support neighbors experiencing homelessness — and she wanted to be part of it.
She believes meaningful change begins at home. So the foundation starts here, in Buffalo, while keeping a long-term vision of working on water issues across Africa, wherever safe water is out of reach.
2026 — Where we are now
Just getting started, and honest about it.
In 2026, Halima formally established Biyo Hope Foundation as a nonprofit corporation in New York. The foundation has confirmed federal tax-exempt status.
Our first community outreach, Warm Drinks, Warm Hearts, is being planned with Pastor Scott and the Buffalo Dream Center. We will share each step as it actually happens — what we plan, what we do, and what we learn along the way.
Meet our founder →Read Halima’s letter →Support our work →