July 28, 2025
Shamil’s Corner
A few days ago I found myself sinking into a too-familiar feeling of despair over the news updates scrolling across my phone’s screen. Then, my phone buzzed three times in quick succession with texts that turned my mood around completely.
First came a photo of uniformed officers who manage a juvenile detention center in Kenya. Grinning with pride, they were accepting certificates from my colleagues expressing appreciation for the support the officers provided over the past five months while our team trained and equipped 30 young detainees to become radio producers and reporters. With the training completed, these young adults now not only have something to do when they get out, but a meaningful means of contributing to the development of their communities—a powerful way to shift the image of youth as a problem to youth as leaders and developers of new solutions.
Next I received a request from a senior diplomat who has been asked to mediate at the highest level between rival political factions in a country that recently emerged from decades of dictatorship. Our team in that country recently secured funds to support community-based mediators and youth activists to mobilize across the entire country, in order to help prevent long-standing ethnic and sectarian rivalries from boiling over into violence and to facilitate citizens’ input into the process of developing a new constitution for the country. He wanted to know whether we might consider coordinating our respective efforts, so that the critical and often-missing link between community-based peacebuilding and political negotiations could be established. An easy “yes” for me, I connected him with our frontline teams, sharing that they understand the sensitivities involved and are thus the ones to make these kinds of decisions. I look forward to what I hope and imagine may develop into an important collaboration in service of the country’s delicate transition toward greater stability and justice.
Third came an enthusiastic “thank you” text from an advisor to corporate CEOs, who has been hired to advise one of the largest mining companies in South Africa. Poor safety conditions there have led to numerous injuries and even deaths of miners and a steadily worsening relationship with community members. I recently arranged a consultation call for her and her colleagues with three of my colleagues—each of whom has worked with Search for at least ten years and has unparalleled experience working at the delicate intersection of communities, governments, and mining companies across multiple countries to reduce human rights abuses, improve safety, and strengthen procedures for channeling and addressing citizens’ concerns. The advisor expressed her astonishment at the accumulated expertise and experience that my colleagues had brought to the call and her commitment to follow-up with us shortly to explore how we might further advise on her difficult work.
There are many privileges to being part of Search, one of which is this: when the news around you amplifies almost exclusively the worst of humanity, forcing even the most upbeat among us to begin to lose hope, this work surrounds you with the very best in humanity. I am grateful for these reminders of life-changing impact made through building peace—from the cells of youth detention centers to the palaces of heads of state.
International Program Highlight
One of the most common catalysts for conflict across the globe is access to land for farming and herding. In Northwest Nigeria, one such conflict nearly exploded into violence earlier this year—save for a team of local peacebuilders supported by Search for Common Ground who were equipped to tackle the challenge.
For decades, two neighboring communities—Daitagi and Tukurwa—argued over an area of farmland. 40 years prior, the land had been loaned to a fisherman by the Daitagi people. Over time, however, his descendents and the broader Tukurwa community began to claim ownership of the land, leading to clashes. Eventually, the Tukurwa community blocked access to Kamba town—a border town linking Nigeria and Benin that serves as a vital hub for cross-border trade and economic activities. As a result, traders from the neighboring Daitagi community were no longer allowed to pass through the Tukurwa territory, further straining relations between the two communities.
With movement restricted and anger mounting, the threat of violent escalation loomed large. But these are the exact moments peacebuilders are built for.
Supported by Search’s Nigeria team, a local group of community leaders and youth were assembled, representing diverse voices from across the conflict-affected areas. They met with both parties at the disputed site and facilitated discussions, ultimately helping the communities come to an agreement. The contested land was returned to the Tukurwa community, and in the spirit of compromise and coexistence, farmers from the neighbouring Daitigi community were granted permission to continue cultivating the land under a lease arrangement. In response to this agreement, the Tukurwa community lifted the blockade, generating an immediate boost in economic activities in Kamba as traders were once again able to move freely. The restoration of this route revived local economic activities and helped rebuild trust among the affected communities.
The intervention not only prevented violence and reopened trade routes, it reaffirmed the power of community-led peacebuilding driven by trained traditional leaders.
Planning for Peace
As July comes to a close, we begin preparations for National Make-A-Will Month this August, a perfect time to reflect on what matters most and take a simple step toward protecting it.
Creating a will is one of the most important ways to care for your loved ones and support the causes close to your heart. Yet nearly 70% of Americans haven’t created or updated their estate plans, meaning their wishes may go unfulfilled.
That’s why we’re partnering with FreeWill, a trusted and completely free tool that guides you through the process of writing a legal will in just 20 minutes.
With a will, you can:
- Ensure your loved ones are cared for
- Direct your assets exactly where you want them to go
- Leave a lasting legacy that advances peace for generations to come
We’ll be sharing more in August, but if you’re ready to get started, you don’t have to wait:
