In 2003, the Second Liberian Civil War ended, leaving the country to mourn the loss of nearly 300,000 people and build peace and democracy after decades of violence.

Denis had been a soldier in one of the main rebel groups. Now, he listened as the government called on combatants to surrender their weapons through the national disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation, and reintegration (DDRR) program.

At this key juncture, Denis stumbled onto Talking Drums Studio (TDS), a production house set up by Search for Common Ground. TDS used radio talk shows, dramas, news programs and storytelling to help Liberians rebuild their country: to process memories of violence, connect across divides, and inspire each other.

Today, after 20 years of work, TDS has become a household name in Liberian media; in 2003, it was still an experiment—a platform for ex-combatants, schoolteachers, child soldiers, artists, and women journalists to reach radios across the country.

Denis recalls his first meeting: “I told them I wanted to work in media. However, I could not enter TDS while I was still a member of the fighting forces. Therefore, a few days later, I showed up to the studio with my demobilization card. I was done with that, and they welcomed me with open arms.”

So began a long partnership. TDS was already producing a program focused on the demobilization process called “DDRR Update”. Denis helped adapt the program, focusing on the challenges of integrating fighters back into communities; the name of the show changed to “Young Citizen.”

At the studio, Denis co-produced the show with a female host. During the war, the hosts were part of two opposing fighting groups. In Young Citizen, they combined their experiences to inspire other young men and women to follow a peaceful path.

“War has never been the answer,” Denis says. “I wanted to be an example: to show them that, if I had gone through this transformation process, it was also possible for them to move forward. It was a driving force to help others understand the need to surrender weapons.”

Through TDS’ partner radio stations, the voices of former combatants spread across the country. Their stories of transformation became a lifeline for young former combatants.

“It was a seed of hope for those who listened and could identify with them,” Denis says. “More and more young people began to return to school or learn a trade. The show changed the lives of former fighters on a daily basis.”

Denis' work did not stop at the radio studio. While the situation remained difficult in some parts of the country, the team was on the ground to convince the remaining combatants to join the disarmament process.

As a veteran of the war, Denis had a special perspective to bring. Many of the fighters were initially reluctant, unsure of how reintegration would actually work and distrustful of public officials. Denis worked to gain trust, explain the process, and open hard conversations.

“Some of the regions we went to were far from being favorable,” Denis says. “The minds of the young people were chaotic; most were deeply traumatized. Ordinary people would not have been able to get there. However, I had been like them; I knew how to approach them, behave, and speak like them.”

Today, Denis hopes for Talking Drums Studio to keep using its expertise to address the violence that still persists. "We must join forces to continue transforming the minds and attitudes of our people [and provide] media content that goes beyond mere information.”