Ilwad Elman

2014 Fellowship Alumna, Somalia

At 29, Ilwad Elman Is at the Forefront of Somalia’s Peace Process

Our recipe for peace building—’drop the gun, pick up the pen’—is about creating alternative livelihoods for young men and children at the front lines, and it started with my father … more than 20 years later, we’re still using the same approach, because it still applies. You don’t have to wait for traditional peace agreements when the masses are accessible.”

Ilwad Elman, 2014 Fellowship Alumna, Somalia

Since participating in the inaugural Mandela Washington Fellowship in 2014, Ilwad Elman has continued her work at the forefront of Somalia’s peace process. This year, she was shortlisted for the Nobel Peace Prize. Learn more about Ilwad’s work and her inspirational story in this interview with Vogue Magazine.

Next Story