This archive report was first published on 25 June 2020.
Community Elders' Role in Fighting Extremism During COVID-19 ¶
Published on June 25, 2020
Community elders are the custodians of a community's culture and traditions, and they play a vital role in building resilience to violent extremism fueled by COVID-19 social and economic challenges.
As the pandemic continues to spread, communities are becoming increasingly vulnerable to radicalization and extremism. To combat this, community elders are working closely with health workers and security agencies to prevent and counter violent extremism.
One such initiative is the Nyumba Kumi program, which brings together community elders, health workers, and security agencies to address the pandemic and prevent extremism. The program has been successful in identifying and addressing emerging local grievances related to COVID-19, and it has also helped to strengthen community policing and surveillance.
Community elders are also playing a critical role in guiding and mentoring youth, who are most affected by the pandemic's social and economic challenges. They are helping to instill positive values in the youth and prevent them from engaging in destructive behavior.
Through community policing, the Nyumba Kumi elders are also strengthening PCVE surveillance and identifying emerging local grievances related to COVID-19 for further monitoring and action.
Ultimately, community participation is crucial in 'flattening the curve' of the pandemic, and it also serves to reinforce positive PCVE outcomes. By working together, community elders, health workers, and security agencies can build resilience against both COVID-19 and violent extremism.
