Bellagio Residency: September 2022
Project: “PEACE BY AFRICA”
Ilwad Elman, a 2019 nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, is internationally recognized as a champion of building peace by providing all those impacted by conflict – particularly women and girls – a seat at the table. A leading human rights activist in Somalia, Elman came to Bellagio in September 2022 to develop a sustainability strategy for the rapidly scaling network of civil society organizations she steers as COO of The Elman Peace Centre. The Centre designs interventions aimed at security sector reform to create an inclusive space for women in peace building and for the disarmament and rehabilitation of child and youth soldiers defecting from armed groups labeled as terrorist organizations.