July 17, 2025 — We are delighted to welcome a new member, Ms. Ashia, joining the Global Taskforce for Youth Combatants.
Ms. Aisha is a returnee from a group labelled as an Islamist extremist organisation in East Africa and a small-scale entrepreneur currently engaged in selling women’s shoes in urban markets. Formerly a nursing student at a medical university in East Africa, her academic path was disrupted in 2020 when she was abducted by armed individuals disguised in military uniforms during her work. While it took time to recover from her experience of abduction, displacement, and uncertainty, she began rebuilding her life by launching a micro-business in 2023. Ms. Aisha is a resilient individual navigating post-trauma challenges through self-reliance. She hopes to regain educational opportunities in the future and remains committed to finding a path toward personal growth and community engagement.
“I speak from experience when I say that life can change in a moment and not always by choice, but how we respond is what defines us. I lost my chance to finish my nursing degree, a dream I held close, when I was taken by force and held far from home. But I was rescued. With that, I chose not to give up.
To every young person who feels lost, unemployed, or pressured into paths of violence or false promises. I want you to know that you matter. Your life has a purpose far beyond being used by others for destruction. The people who drag you into terror speak of hope and prosperity, but bring only fear and pain. Don't let them steal your future.
Instead, choose peace. Choose patience. Choose a new beginning. Even when everything seems broken, you can rebuild. You can work, learn, grow. My small business may be humble, but it is mine. It is honest. And it is a step toward something greater.
Let us be the generation that ends the cycle of violence by speaking out, by supporting each other, and by standing strong for our communities. Together, we can be the light that pushes away the darkness. Peace starts with us.”
For new updates on our task force members, please visit the “MEMBERS” section on our website.
