¡°Aisha¡± and her two young children fled?her small rural hometown after divorcing her husband.
The 36-year-old woman travelled to Baidoa with her children to start a new chapter in their lives. However, soon after her arrival, stories of ¡°Aisha¡¯s¡± past association with Al-Shabaab spread quickly within the community.
Due to fear, community members often avoided ¡°Aisha¡± and her children. As a result, she felt more and more isolated, struggling to fit in and make new connections.
One day, as she expressed, life offered her a ¡°second chance¡±. She learned about the government¡¯s offer of amnesty and the opportunity to access critical services at a transitional rehabilitation centre in Baidoa, which assisted women formerly associated with the group.
At the rehabilitation centre, ¡°Aisha¡± and her children received food, healthcare, and education. Through the protection allowance provided by the centre, ¡°Aisha¡± managed to rent her own place. With the small amount left over, she?can meet her children¡¯s basic needs.
This story is part of a?series highlighting human stories for the 2025 Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Symposium.
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