It was in the summer of 2011, when I, a first-year university student back then, found out about the situation in Somalia. Often acknowledged as “the world’s forgotten catastrophe”, I saw shocking news of prestigious NGOs specializing in emergency aid having no other choice but to withdraw. Nevertheless, I couldn’t bring myself to ignore what was going on in Somalia.

Ever since I established the university student-led “Japan Somalia Youth Organisation”, we have been giving our everything, believing that there is something 'We' can only do. Our organization has encountered countless numbers of obstacles. At times, we bit our lips with helplessness. However, with my fellow members, slowly but steadily, we have been able to overcome such hardships. ‘By deciding what issue to tackle first, we can find something we can do’. With an eye only to solve issues, this is what I have realized.

Thinking back, I ask myself, “What is it that I can do? What do I have to do?”. When I look around, I see cases of terrorism only increasing, and I find numerous conflicts other than Somalia being in a quagmire. Despite such a situation, my belief has not changed since 2011. Time has enabled me to bring greater impact. We do not see ourselves as helpless individuals, much less with little power.

I am determined to devote my life to challenging the unending issue of terrorism and conflict resolution.

I give you my deepest appreciation for your support and understanding,

<Profile>
Yosuke Nagai is the Executive Director of Accept International and the Founder of the Global Taskforce for Youth Combatants. Since 2011, he has led the design and implementation of deradicalization, reintegration, and rehabilitation programs for disengaged members of non-state armed groups in conflict-affected contexts such as Somalia and Yemen. He has also actively promoted dialogue and reconciliation initiatives in highly sensitive environments, including Palestine. He holds a PhD in Social Science from Waseda University and a Master’s degree in Conflict Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He has served as a Visiting Fellow at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and is currently a Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford. In addition, he contributes to the work of various United Nations bodies through participation in Youth Advisory Boards, Expert Group Meetings, and Technical Working Groups.

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