Path to Peace: Victor Ochen on Facing the Lord’s Resistance Army and Rebuilding Lives Post-Conflict

A childhood shaped by one of the most cruel rebel groups in history. Rape, killings and an abducted brother who was never found. If these defined decades of your life, the last thing you would want to talk about is peace — unless you are Victor Ochen.

Our first episode takes us to Uganda, which has been plagued by civil unrest and rebellion since the 1980s. We dive into Victor's life, a young man, wise beyond his years, who refused to be enlisted as a child soldier. Growing up in between refugee camps, Victor was forced to confront his inner demons for survival, and won. Victor was hailed a hero for peace in his country, becoming the youngest ever African nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2015.

The episode dives into topics including genocide, mass atrocities, child soldiers, peace and reconciliation.

Key themes:
The episode dives into topics including genocide, mass atrocities, child soldiers, peace and reconciliation.

Episode Toolkit:

Host: Hazami Barmada, Founder and CEO, Humanity Lab Foundation.

HAZAMI BARMADA is the Founder & CEO of Humanity Lab Foundation and co-Executive Producer & Host

Finding Humanity Podcast. Hazami is a social entrepreneur, thought leader, and public affairs and social impact expert recognized by Forbes as an “inspirational agent of change.” She has consulted for many leading global brands including the United Nations, United Nations Foundation, Aspen Institute, and the Royal Court of the Sultanate of Oman. Among her posts at the United Nations, she served as the Coordinator for the United Nations Secretary General's World Humanitarian Summit, an Advisor to the first-ever United Nations Secretary-General's Youth Envoy, as a member of the United Nations SDG Strategy Hub for the launch of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Hazami has a Masters from Harvard University where she was an Edward S. Mason Fellow in Public Policy and Management. She studied social and public policy at Georgetown University and has a BA in Anthropology and Sociology. Twitter: @hazamibarmada

Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. 

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