About Us
History
2025 | August | Hosted an official side event at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) on Youth Associated with Non-State Armed Groups (YANSAG): “Addressing Overlooked Challenges to Peace: Unique Potential of Former Combatants to Become Agents of Peace.” Adopted the Tokyo Declaration and Action Plan for Peace in Palestine. |
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July | Launched a project commissioned by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of the UK government to conduct needs assessments and provide rehabilitation support for violent extremist prisoners in Kenya. | |
June | Developed a new empowerment program for Youth Associated with Non-State Armed Groups (YANSAG). | |
2024 | October | Launched emergency humanitarian assistance to Gaza in Palestine and establishing dialogue spaces for a new process to peace and justice involving youth and conflict parties. |
September | Creation of the Global Taskforce for Youth Combatants (GTY) to foster awareness and facilitate dialogue on the rights and empowerment of young people affected by terrorism and armed conflict. | |
June | Launched a rehabilitation and social reintegration project for former combatants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in Caquetá, Colombia. | |
April | Presented at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum 2024 held in New York, USA, and hosted an official side event. | |
2023 | November | Initiated a project to prevent radicalization among vulnerable youth in frontline areas of Lower Shabelle, Somalia. |
October | Held the 1st International Symposium on Youth Associated with Non-State Armed Groups in New York, USA. | |
September | Started a deradicalization and social reintegration project for terrorist inmates at the maximum-security prison on Nusakambangan Island, Indonesia. | |
June | Launched a resilience enhancement project in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to address climate change and conflict in Turkana and Garissa, northwest and northeast Kenya, respectively. Began deradicalization and social reintegration projects for Houthi armed group members, defectors, and war prisoners, as well as participation in prisoners of war exchange negotiations, in special detention facilities in Marib Governorate, Yemen. |
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March | Commenced a deradicalization and social reintegration project for terrorism-related inmates at maximum-security prisons in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya. | |
2022 | October | In response to the worsening drought in Somalia, emergency relief operations were launched in the Galmudug region. Launched a project to support the deradicalization and reintegration of detainees and inmates associated with the Houthi armed group at the Central Prison in Taiz Governorate, Yemen. |
September | Commissioned by the U.S. Department of State, a counter-narrative project was initiated in Somalia using radio broadcasts to address violent extremism. | |
2021 | December | Began managing the first rehabilitation facility for defectors of Al-Shabaab in central Galmudug State, Somalia. |
October | Obtained Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). | |
September | Released a "Declaration of Rights for Youth Involved in Terrorism and Armed Conflict" to mark the 10th anniversary of Accept International. | |
April | Launched a deradicalization and social reintegration project towards defectors of armed groups in Taiz, Yemen. | |
2020 | December | Received the Peace Award at the "King Hamad Youth Empowerment Award to Achieve the SDGs" ceremony, hosted by the King of Bahrain and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). |
November | Launched support programs for Muslim residents and rehabilitation for juvenile delinquents in Japan. Received the 55th Social Contribution Award (Nippon Foundation Prize) from the Social Contribution Support Foundation. Accept International initiative was recognized as a "solution to global challenges" at the 3rd Paris Peace Forum, marking the first time such a selection has been made from Japan. With funding from the Toyota Foundation, launched a project to prevent online radicalization in Indonesia and Japan. |
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August | Initiated a project in collaboration with the Somali government to encourage defections from Al-Shabaab. | |
April | Implemented emergency responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Somalia and Kenya, in partnership with UN-HABITAT. | |
2019 | April | Initiated a deradicalization and social reintegration program for arrested members and convicts of Al-Shabaab at the central prison in Mogadishu, Somalia. |
2018 | September | Launched an income-generation initiative in Nairobi’s peri-slum areas, supporting vulnerable unemployed youth, including gang members, through entrepreneurship. |
August | Began disengagement and reintegration support for former members of so-called extremist organizations in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. | |
April | Initiated the acceptance and rehabilitation of individuals disengaging from the Somali gang group “Super Power.” | |
2017 | September | Completed the full acceptance programme for all members of “Calif Massive,” a Somali gang organization, as well as its subsequent disbandment. |
July | Commenced partner operations with UN-Habitat in Mandera, Kenya. | |
April | Incorporated the “Japan Somalia Youth Organization” to “NGO Accept International.” | |
March | The number of the deradicalization and reintegration project participants exceeded 70 people. | |
2016 | Feburary | Launched collaboration with the Somali government on rehabilitation and reintegration programs for former Al-Shabaab members. |
2015 | March | Yosuke Nagai (Executive Director) is awarded the Special Prize as part of the "Waseda University Ono Azusa Memorial Prize" as well as the “Waseda University Alumni Association Prize.” |
2014 | July | Honored with the Humanity Prize and the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ Incentive Award at the 28th Annual Ten Outstanding Young Persons Awards, and received the Grand Prize at University Student of the Year 2014. |
2013 | September | Launched the “Movement with Gangsters” program, providing disengagement and reintegration support for Somali gang members. |
February | Achieved first place with 956 votes in the “Student Challenge for Change: a Project for Good by Students” hosted by American Express Japan. | |
2012 | October | Launched the “Cheer Up Somali Sports Project,” a peacebuilding initiative providing donated sports equipment to a Somali refugee camp district in Kenya. |
2011 | December | Officially began activities with Somali members, following a merger with local student groups in Kenya. |
Nobember | Launched the “Long-term Study Abroad Project” in Japan for Somali students. | |
Semtember | Established the Japan Somalia Youth Organization, a student-led NGO based at Waseda University, co-founded by Yosuke Nagai and two Somali students. The organization was founded with the mission of contributing to conflict resolution in Somalia. |