Berghof Foundation: 50 years of conflict transformation
This book provides an overview of the Berghof Foundation’s work and impact over the past 50 years and sheds light on the challenges ahead of peacebuilding.
This book provides an overview of the Berghof Foundation’s work and impact over the past 50 years and sheds light on the challenges ahead of peacebuilding.
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Interview<br />
“<br />
I decided<br />
that I should<br />
not allow<br />
the negative<br />
comments to<br />
discourage<br />
me.<br />
Sumayo<br />
Ibrahim<br />
Osman<br />
Youth<br />
activist<br />
from<br />
Somalia<br />
What is your background, and how did you end up<br />
doing peacebuilding work?<br />
I have been a peacemaker for as long as I<br />
can remember: I am a person who resolves disputes<br />
between students, and I also come from a family<br />
well-known for peacemaking and development.<br />
It comes naturally to me. One day in 2018, when I was<br />
in form three [ninth grade] at school, I was invited to<br />
represent the Balad district youth association at a<br />
training event in Mogadishu, which was organised<br />
by the <strong>Bergh<strong>of</strong></strong> <strong>Foundation</strong>. I was the youngest <strong>of</strong> 16<br />
participants from four districts in Hirshabelle region<br />
[a region near the capital Mogadishu]. Today I am a<br />
member <strong>of</strong> the Hirshabelle Insider Peacebuilders<br />
Network (IPN), which was established by the<br />
<strong>Bergh<strong>of</strong></strong> <strong>Foundation</strong>.<br />
Can you tell us more about the project you were<br />
involved in with <strong>Bergh<strong>of</strong></strong>?<br />
I participated in a conference organised by<br />
the <strong>Bergh<strong>of</strong></strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> in 2018, which was about<br />
community dialogue. My role was to help the trainers<br />
with the organisation <strong>of</strong> the conference. We aimed<br />
to provide the community with a platform to discuss<br />
important issues such as local <strong>conflict</strong>s and how<br />
to resolve them. Each conference is attended by<br />
about <strong>50</strong> people from all walks <strong>of</strong> life, including<br />
religious leaders, traditional elders, women, youth,<br />
businesspeople, academics and people with special<br />
needs. I was one <strong>of</strong> the co-facilitators.<br />
What do you think was the most important<br />
achievement <strong>of</strong> the project/process you were<br />
working on with <strong>Bergh<strong>of</strong></strong>?<br />
The establishment <strong>of</strong> the IPN, which will<br />
continue to work after the project is completed,<br />
has been a great success. It will raise awareness,<br />
provide training for the community and will continue<br />
to provide a space to have discussions on the various<br />
prospects for resolving local <strong>conflict</strong>s. All this can<br />
strengthen peaceful coexistence.<br />
What was the greatest challenge or difficulty<br />
you encountered?<br />
The biggest challenge I faced was that<br />
people saw me as a young girl, but when the debate<br />
took place, people understood that even though I<br />
was a girl and very young, I was a capable, eloquent<br />
person with a vision who could contribute to peace.<br />
I decided that I should not allow the negative<br />
comments to discourage me. Instead, I showed that<br />
I can contribute, and that the role <strong>of</strong> young people is<br />
needed. My brother has supported me in this.<br />
Looking at the situation today, what do you<br />
personally take away from this work?<br />
Today I have the skill to resolve <strong>conflict</strong>s.<br />
I meet young people who are active in peace and I<br />
find encouragement in them. Going forward, I plan<br />
to educate our society and organise awareness<br />
programmes on <strong>conflict</strong>s and how to achieve<br />
lasting peace.<br />
What are your biggest hopes and fears for the<br />
peace process/transition in your country?<br />
I am disappointed in the transition period as it<br />
does not appear that there will be fair elections in the<br />
country. If political issues are not agreed upon, it will<br />
have a negative impact on reconciliation at various<br />
levels, such as federal, state, district and village<br />
levels. Rigged elections and corruption can lead to<br />
more <strong>conflict</strong>s and wars.<br />
What would you like people who don’t<br />
know your context to understand?<br />
Somalia is a beautiful country inhabited by<br />
peace-loving young people who have high hopes<br />
for their country.<br />
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