As we step into 2026, we reflect on some key moments from MAG's staff around the world, and the impact they hope to see over the next 12 months.
Jordache Mangroo, Construction Manager, Caribbean region
"During 2025, we were able to provide physical security upgrades to four sites built for the safe storage of weapons or explosives and ammunition in Barbados, Belize and Trinidad and Tobago – but that is only the beginning.
"Our team has planned meticulously and kept momentum quietly building in the background, and we are ready to carry out refurbishments at many more sites across the region and start some large construction projects next year.
"In 2026, I’m excited about the team moving from preparation to execution, with the clear purpose of building a safer Caribbean guiding every step."
Maria Jose Freire, Financial Support Services Officer, Ecuador
"I remember when together with my colleagues, we destroyed a batch of weapons in Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city.
"Each weapon destroyed is one less chance for violence.
"That achievement strengthens my hope that in 2026, we’ll stay united, preventing weapons from being used with harmful intent."
Salah Nuri, Senior Radio Operator, Iraq
"In 2025, I was proud of activating radio communications between the Erbil logistic centre base and Duhok, Ninewa, Kirkuk, and surrounding areas, as well as with demining teams in the field. This improved coordination and ensured teams could communicate effectively during operations.
"Radio communication plays a critical role in keeping surrounding communities safe, especially during explosive ordnance disposal demolition tasks when we warn people about when to avoid dangerous areas.
"For 2026, we have planned radio training courses for radio operators, medics, and teams to help transition radio communications from analogue to digital systems to further improve our operations."
Abibou Boukary, Community Liaison Specialist, Benin
"In Benin, this year has been shaped by moments that deeply marked our activities and risk education mission. In the villages of northern Benin, we witnessed children turning curiosity into vigilance. Communities came together around creative initiatives – like traditional wrestling and cultural dances – that brought abstract concepts to life.
"One of the highlights was the active involvement of local leaders, who carried the message of safety into homes, creating a true collective movement. These moments, filled with solidarity and hope, remind us that every message shared is a victory against the threat of explosive devices.
"In 2026, we aim to go even further: strengthen innovation, reach new communities, and make prevention a shared reflex for all."
Anton Shaposhnyk, Demining Team Leader, Ukraine
"The moment when we returned the first plot of safe land to the community was one of the most powerful events of 2025 for me.
"I saw people taking their first steps with relief and faith onto land that had been dangerous just yesterday.
"For our team, it was confirmation that every day of work has meaning. This experience gives me hope that in 2026 we will be able to return even more territory to those who are waiting for safety and a normal life."
Bounma Phengyaseng, Field Operations Manager, Laos
"Over the past year in Khammouane Province, our teams have faced significant challenges – from unusually heavy rains and flooding that cut off access to work sites, to the continued discovery of large unexploded bombs in areas vital to daily life and development. In 2025, I was proud to step into the role of Field Operations Manager, leading teams in my own community to make land safe. As development accelerates, including new roads and agricultural expansion, the threat of explosive remnants of war remains a serious obstacle.
"Looking ahead to 2026, I hope for continued donor support to clear these hazards, create local jobs, expand usable land, and ensure communities can live and develop safely, free from fear."
Mwalimu Peter Matiko, Construction Manager, Kenya
"This year marked a significant milestone for MAG in Kenya as we launched our newest country programme, overcoming considerable challenges along the way.
"Key achievements included the completion of 13 assessments – exceeding our initial target of 10 – made possible through the guidance and support of the Kenya National Focal Point for Small Arms and Light Weapons. We also secured endorsement from the Inspector General of the National Police Service-Kenya, Mr. Douglas Kanja, paving the way for the implementation of our WRA-funded project.
"Looking ahead to 2026, we will scale up our impact by strengthening physical security and stockpile management through innovative construction and rehabilitation initiatives, helping to ensure safer communities across Kenya."
Chi Mai Dang, Deputy Team Leader, Vietnam
"Earlier this year, after receiving a report that two M117 bombs had been found near a busy national highway connecting the Cha Lo border with Laos, our emergency response team coordinated with local authorities before travelling over two hours to the site.
"Safely removing these bombs is critical for both public safety and regional economic activity. As a Deputy Team Leader, I am proud to have contributed to the safe removal and disposal of these bombs, and I look forward to helping return more safe land and protect more communities in 2026.”
