Mothers Without Borders: Steering Youth Away from Violent Extremism

Helping mothers prevent their children from being recruited to violent extremism.

The Problem

Violent terrorism has spread across the globe in recent years. Children often end up entangled in violence, civil wars, and attacks on innocent citizens. We have seen that women often possess a unique and privileged position to intervene in the recruitment of children into violent organizations. The challenge our project addresses is to identify and spread best practices to help parents, and particularly mothers, prevent their children from being recruited into extremist organizations.

The Solution

This project will conduct field research in Nigeria, Kenya, Yemen, and Jordan. Specifically, we will focus on learning which actions Muslim women employ to prevent the recruitment of young girls to extremist movements. We will produce essays/drama scripts/plays and songs, and publish a book of policies and practices that will promote Mothers’ Role in Resisting Youth Violent Extremism. We will also share our findings within focus group discussions in rural communities to raise awareness and inform communities at grassroots levels.