Tuesday February 27, 2024
Electrical training at a UNICEF-funded reintegration center. UNICEF Somalia/Sabriye
Meet Adan*, a boy of seventeen years who was associated with a non-state armed group in Northern Somalia since February 2023. As fighting between clans intensified, and schools closed, Adan and his friends took up arms, not only to defend his clan but also their territory, a cause that many boys and men in his hometown identified with.
After receiving very brief instructions on how to use a gun, Adan entered the clashes, where he saw hundreds of civilian casualties, mass displacement of people into neighbouring districts and major destruction of civilian infrastructure.
In September 2023, a community-based child protection committee member met Adan and learned of his involvement in the fighting. The committee member alerted the area monitoring and reporting mechanism (MRM) monitor, Mohamed*, who approached Adan and initiated dialogue to build trust and provide support. While providing psychosocial first aid, Mohamed informed Adan of the dangers of being associated with an armed group, especially at such an early age, and made him aware of the available programs that could benefit him. Mohamed continued engaging Adan and helped him to leave the armed group, enrol in a reintegration programme and be reunited with his family. He spends two days a week with his family and the other days at the reintegration centre. Adan was given clothes and shoes to ease the process of re-joining the community and returning home.
The reintegration programme is designed to assist children formerly associated with armed forces and armed groups through psychosocial support, vocational training, quality education and health care.
‘‘In the transition from the times of fighting to the reintegration centre, I discovered the importance of disassociating oneself from such groups. Alongside this, I seized the invaluable opportunity to learn about electricity, a skill that will illuminate a path towards a prosperous future for me. I am grateful to all those involved in this process,’’ says Adan.
Adan’s wish is to continue receiving support throughout his training and then acquire the necessary tools to start his career as an electrician. He hopes that other children affected by conflicts in Somalia can benefit from similar support.
The reintegration programme for children formerly associated with armed conflict is supported by UNICEF with funding from Denmark, the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), Japan, Norway and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID-BHA). Thanks to the programme, Adan is gaining important life skills that will make him a productive and peaceful member of his community.
In the face of chronic conflict, the futures of children like Adan hang in the balance. But with the right support and resources, we can guide them from the darkness of violence to the light of hope.