STORY: Shaping peace together: Somali youth as change-

makers
TRT: 3:04
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CREDIT REQUIRED: UNSOM STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
LANGUAGE: SOMALI/ NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 23/SEPTEMBER/2020, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST:

1. Wide shot, moderator introducing the panelists leading the discussions on

one-day event on "Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in
Somalia” held in Mogadishu, Somalia
2. Med shot, Abdiwaasa Idriss Jelle, Director of the Somali Youth Civic
Organization (SYCO), giving his opening remarks during the event
3. Close up shot, participant listening during the event discussions
4. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) ABDIWAASA IDRISS JELLE, DIRECTOR, SOMALI
YOUTH CIVIC ORGANIZATION (SYCO)
“A country is saved by its youth. It is the youth who lead in all efforts to bring
change, hence it is good for the youth to also participate in politics and to be
part of the positive change and development in the country.”

5. Wide shot, panellist Bilan Mahamud, activist representing the Somali

National Women’s Organization (SNWO), giving her remarks one-day event
on "Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in Somalia” held
in Mogadishu, Somalia
6. Med shot, panellist Bilan Mahamud giving her remarks one-day event on
"Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in Somalia” held in
Mogadishu, Somalia
7. Med shot, participants listening during the one-day event on "Youth on
Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in Somalia” held in Mogadishu,
Somalia
8. Close up shot, participant listening during the one-day event on "Youth on
Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in Somalia” held in Mogadishu,
Somalia
9. Med shot, participants listening during the one-day event on "Youth on
Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in Somalia” held in Mogadishu,
Somalia
10. Med shot, participants listening and taking notes during the one-day event on
"Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in Somalia” held in
Mogadishu, Somalia
11. Close up shot, panellist Bilan Mahamud giving her remarks one-day event on
"Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in Somalia” held in
Mogadishu, Somalia
12. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) BILAN MAHAMUD, ACTIVIST, SOMALI NATIONAL
WOMEN ORGANIZATION (SNWO)
“Since women and youth are history makers in Somalia, and play a role in
nation-building, we want them to move forward, because we need them to
find solutions to the huge challenges we are facing now as a nation. Youth
must never back down but instead they need to come out and develop their
country.”

13. Med shot, moderator talking during the one-day event on "Youth on Political
Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in Somalia” held in Mogadishu, Somalia
14. Med shot, panellist Mohamed Shirie, Director of the multi-sectoral platform
Somalia Non-State Actors (SONSA), giving his remarks during the during the
one-day event on "Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in
Somalia” held in Mogadishu, Somalia
15. Wide shot, participants listening and taking notes during the during the one-
day event on "Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in
Somalia” held in Mogadishu, Somalia
16. Close up shot, participant taking down notes during the during the one-day
event on "Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in Somalia”
held in Mogadishu, Somalia
17. Close up shot, participant listening during the during the one-day event on
"Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in Somalia” held in
Mogadishu, Somalia
18. Wide shot, participants listening during the during the one-day event on
"Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in Somalia” held in
Mogadishu, Somalia
19. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) MOHAMED SHIRIE, DIRECTOR, SOMALIA NON-STATE
ACTORS (SONSA)
“The event was really important because it relates to the current realities
faced by youth in Somalia. The youth need to be always sensitized because
our country is reeling from years of conflicts and many challenges, and we
motivate youth to actively take part in politics, upcoming elections and
reconciliation efforts.”

20. Wide shot, participants taking part in group discussions during the one-day
event on "Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in Somalia”
held in Mogadishu, Somalia
21. Med shot, participants taking part in group discussions during the one-day
event on "Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in Somalia”
held in Mogadishu, Somalia
 22. workshop aimed at addressing COVID-19, Youth Political Participations,
upcoming Elections 2020/21 and Security issues as part of events to mark
International Day of Peace, held in Mogadishu Somalia
23. Close up shot, participant deliberating during the group discussion session at
the one-day event on "Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-
19 in Somalia” held in Mogadishu, Somalia
24. Med shot, participant deliberating during the group discussion session at the
one-day event on "Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in
Somalia” held in Mogadishu, Somalia
25. Wide shot, participant deliberating during the group discussion session at the
one-day event on "Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in
Somalia” held in Mogadishu, Somalia
26. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) ABDIAZIZ MAHAMUD AIDID, PARTICIPANT AT THE
EVENT
“Today the Somali youth have a huge opportunity to take part in nation-
building, to bring political change through the upcoming elections and to take
an active role in rebuilding their country.”

27. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) FATUMA ABDULLAHI MAHAMUD, PARTICIPANT AT

THE EVENT
“I have learnt the importance of youth in peacebuilding and I am now
motivated to take part in politics and peace-building. I also have realized how
valuable I am as a youth to the community.”

28. Wide shot, participants posing for a group photo during theone-day event on
"Youth on Political Participation, Elections and COVID-19 in Somalia” held in
Mogadishu, Somalia

Shaping peace together: Somali youth as change-makers

 
Mogadishu, 23 September 2020 – Somalia’s youth need to be change-makers and actively
take part in politics, reconciliation, peace-building, elections and ongoing efforts to help
develop their country – this was the main message stemming from a recent panel discussion
which brought together more than 30 youth representing different parts of Somali society.
 
“A country is saved by its youth. It is the youth who lead in all efforts to bring change, hence
it is good for the youth to also participate in politics and to be part of the positive change
and development in the country,” the Executive Director of the Somali Youth Civic
Organization (SYCO), Abdiwasa Idriss Jelle, said at the gathering, held at a venue in
Mogadishu this past Monday.
 
The event was organized by SYCO, a local non-governmental organization which focuses on
youth development and leadership, de-radicalization and livelihoods, with the support of the
United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). Held on the International Day of
Peace, celebrated globally on 21 September, the event was aimed at helping empower
Somali youth, and underpinned by the belief that youth who are well-informed and engaged
are well-placed to help rebuild and transform their country.
 
The panel discussion brought together youth representatives from many of Somalia’s
different clans and different walks of life, including young professionals, university graduates
and students. It was also held in the midst of an exacting panorama for Somalia as it engages
in preparations for parliamentary and presidential elections, while also dealing with the
social and economic consequences of the ‘triple threat’ posed by floods, the highly
infectious COVID-19 pandemic, and locust infestation.
 
The power of youth
 
Panellists at the event noted that youth in Somalia form around 70 per cent of the
population, and broadly urged them to tap into their numerical strength to mobilize for
peace and development – with the role of young women particularly highlighted.
 
“Since women and youth are history makers in Somalia, and play a role in nation-building,
we want them to move forward, because we need them to find solutions to the huge
challenges we are facing now as a nation,” an activist representing the Somali National
Women’s Organization (SNWO), Bilan Mahamud, said in the discussions.
 
Looking back to Somalia’s history of women’s involvement in national efforts, Ms. Mahamud
encouraged participants to emulate the 13 members of the Somali Youth League, and
prominent woman activist Hawo Tako, all of whom played critical roles in the country’s path
to independence in the 1950s and 1960s.
 
“Youth must never back down, but instead they need to come out and develop their
country,” she added.  
 
Another panellist, Mohamed Shirie, the director of the multi-sectoral platform Somalia Non-
State Actors (SONSA), which brings together non-governmental and community-based
organizations, highlighted that the topics under discussion were centred on the unavoidable
realities faced by Somali youth.
 
“Our country is reeling from years of conflict and many challenges, and hence we need to
motivate youth to actively take part in politics, the upcoming elections and reconciliation
efforts,” said Mr. Shirie.
 
Youth and peace-building
 
Some attendees said that being able to take part in the discussions helped flesh out their
thinking, and motivate them to vie for slots in the upcoming parliamentary elections as well
as be more involved in community matters.
 
Noting the need to have youth avoid becoming radicalized, one participant, Abdiaziz
Mahamud Aidid, compared youth to a double-edged sword in that they can be used for both
good and bad purposes – and stressed the need for youth to be catalysts of positive change.
 
“Today, the Somali youth have a huge opportunity to take part in nation-building, to bring
political change through the upcoming elections and to take an active role in rebuilding their
country,” said Mr. Aidid.
 
“I have learnt the importance of youth in peacebuilding and I am now motivated to take part
in politics and peace-building. I also have realized how valuable I am as a youth to the
community,” said another attendee, Fatuma Abdullahi Mahamud.
 
The UN Security Council has highlighted, through resolutions 2250, 2419, and 2535, the key
role that young people can play in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peace-building and
sustaining peace, as well as the importance of facilitating youth participation and leadership
in these areas, as well as the importance of facilitating youth participation spaces.
 
At a recent Council meeting on youth, peace and security, the UN Under-Secretary-General
for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, emphasized that the involvement
of youth in peace initiatives is a must. 
 
“We must build on the fact that the active participation and inclusion of young people in
political processes in peace-building is no longer viewed as optional or as an afterthought. It
has rightly become one of the cornerstones of the sustaining peace agenda,” said Ms.
DiCarlo.
 
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