[The Legacy]
Our Story
Women-led. Somali-founded. Thirty-five years, and still building.
Founded in war.
Built for peace.
Founded in 1990, the organization was run by Elman Ali Ahmed and his wife Fartuun Adan. As civil war engulfed Somalia, they inspired collective action where the world saw only collapse — offering young people co-opted into the fighting a dignified alternative.
"Drop the Gun, Pick up the Pen"
— First instituted by Elman Ali AhmedThat slogan became a national mantra — and the seed of everything that followed. The people who carried it are at Our People; the journey it started is below.
Thirty-five years, one thread.
The foundation of the Elman Peace movement
As Somalia faced looming conflict, Fartuun & Elman, a young entrepreneurial couple, began inspiring collective action before the war… laying the foundation for the Elman Peace movement.
“Drop the Gun, Pick Up the Pen”
“Drop the Gun, Pick Up the Pen” campaign launched. Offering alternative dignified livelihoods to youth co-opted into fighting for the warlords.
Elman Ali Ahmed is tragically killed in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Fartuun Adan returns to Somalia
Fartuun Adan returns to Somalia & in honor of her husband's legacy rebuilds the Elman Peace Centre.
Life-saving services & reintegration work
EPC provides life-saving services & re-starts disarmament & reintegration work.
Sister Somalia, the 1st rape crisis centre
Ilwad Elman returns to Somalia & the Mother-Daughter Duo launch Sister Somalia, the 1st rape crisis centre in Somalia.
Decentralizing life-saving services
EPC begins to decentralize life-saving services to rural & harder-to-reach communities outside of government-controlled areas.
EPC's global recognitions begin
EPC's global recognitions began with Fartuun Adan receiving the International Women of Courage Award. Since 2013 EPC has been recognized with a prestigious award annually.
Knowledge products to standardize care
Developed + published EPC experience-informed knowledge products to standardize care for children associated with armed forces & groups.
EPC's 1st UN Security Council briefing
EPC's 1st UN Security Council briefing. Generating a global discussion on WPS/SGBV in Somalia.
Breaking ground on the EPC H.Q.
Breaking ground on the EPC H.Q. in Mogadishu. A sustainable community center to uphold our mission for generations to come.
A regional leader — Peace by Africa
EPC emerged as a regional leader. Hosting a series of CSO symposiums on community-based reintegration in Rwanda, Nigeria & DRC, convening grass-root PCVE & reintegration practitioners for regional cooperation. This milestone catalyzed the Peace by Africa Network EPC co-founded — facilitating cross-border collaboration & awarding sub-grants to community-led reintegration efforts in the Lake Chad Basin & Great Lake Regions of Africa.
Almas Elman is tragically killed in Mogadishu, Somalia.
EPC's 30th anniversary & years of resilience
Despite unimaginable losses, we celebrated 30 years since EPC's founding — a testament to our conviction and the strength of the communities we serve. Together, we honor the past by building a future where peace and justice prevail.
Somalia's first Girls' Leadership Academy
EPC launched Somalia's first Girls' Leadership Academy, offering high-quality, free education to 200 girls for four years. Its sustainable business model enabled the opening of a second academy, now serving 800 girls across two locations, and keeps the schools free for students.
Elman Primary School & the Jiilka Maanta Festival
EPC launched Elman Primary School, the Mogadishu Montessori, a free early education program in partnership with an international school to provide high-quality education for children under six. Additionally, EPC hosted Somalia's first Peace Festival in 30 years, the Jiilka Maanta Festival, bringing together over 6,000 people to celebrate peace and unity.
Still building
Thirty-five years. Same mission. Same city. Still building.
We are not asking for pity.
We are building systems.
Thirty-five years taught us one thing: nothing holds in isolation. So we hold three roles at once.
Bridge Builders
Global innovation needs a local door. We are it — connecting civil society, the private sector, and international partners so good ideas land in something real.
Market Shapers
We train the workforce, seed the enterprises, and build the infrastructure of an economy Somalia hasn't had before. We used to ask companies to hire our graduates. Now companies come to us.
Systems Orchestrators
The same hands that run programmes on the ground built Peace by Africa, the continental network we co-founded — carrying frameworks that travel because they were lived first.
Grassroots implementer.
Systems orchestrator.
These aren't contradictions.
The credibility to orchestrate comes from the decades of implementing — and the impact of implementing is amplified by the networks that carry it further. None of this works in isolation. All of it works together.
Thirty-five years, still going.
A contribution keeps the next thirty-five on track.
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