The Elman Peace Centre’s Drop the Gun, Pick Up the Pen (EPHRC) successfully disarmed, rehabilitated
and reintegrated thousands of young women and men
co-opted into clan militias by warlords, enabling them to peacefully rejoin their communities and
enjoy alternative livelihoods. Decades later, conflict
in Somalia continues to rage and young Somalis are being co-opted by new hybrid armed actors and the
transnational network of Al-Shabaab. EPHRC responded
by designing a community-based approach to D2R for Al-Shabaab combatants that takes
account of the highly asymmetrical nature of Somalia’s conflict and is
potentially relevant to conflicts elsewhere.
The Elman Peace Approach:
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Provides individual support to disengaged combatants in inte rim care centres. Services include
psychosocial care, vocational training, and training in life skills.
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Uses focused advocacy to build the awareness of communities, government and security actors.
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Strengthens the capacity and commitment of communities to prevent recruitment and
radicalisation.
The programme operates in areas of continuing conflict where control over communities may shift
frequently between the Federal Republic of Somalia and Al-Shabaab,
as well as areas that are now calm. Working with ex-combatants, ‘active’ combatants and ‘at risk’
populations, EPHRC has rescued child soldiers, kept communities affected
by violent extremism together, and helped thousands of disillusioned young Somalis who want to stop
fighting but are unable to see any opportunities outside if they do. To these young people,
EPHRC offers practical life skills, religious literacy, vocational training, psychosocial support,
peer-to-peer mentorship, training in business and financial skills, and startup grants.
