Thursday, March 24, 2016

"Walk the Talk"- Creators of Peace Circle in Kituro, Baringo County, Kenya

After the courageous and emotional apology by the Pokot women to the women of the other communities in Baringo County, Kenya, the Creators of Peace (CoP) team made a decision to put its effort and focus in 2016 on Baringo County. In November 2015, the “CoP Baringo Project” was launched in Kabarnet by Peace Ambassador, Mr. Kosgei. The hope for the CoP team is to train 1000 women in Baringo County by the end of 2016 to be creators of peace in their lives and families - the greatest breeding points for hatred, violence, bitterness and ethnic divides.

To start off the project, three Peace Circles took place in Baringo County as a way of gathering momentum for the year 2016 with the support of CoP Sydney ladies. Between Feb 3-5, the first Peace Circles took place in a Church compound in Kituro, Baringo North with 20 women who value the importance of creating peace starting from within themselves and then out to their families and to the society.  

The Peace Ambassador for Baringo county, Mr Kosgei, who has been very supportive of Peace Circles and very interested to know about the training, despite his busy schedule, spent a whole day with the women on the first day. It was an encouraging moment for the facilitators. A few days earlier, there was an incident in a nearby village where a body was found. As a result, one community had started revenge attacks on another and at that point three people had been killed.  The Peace Ambassador urged the participants to take the training seriously and to also be good ambassadors. He added that Baringo County needs peace and he expressed his conviction that women have a huge role in building it. In relation to that, he encouraged the women to participate in peace negotiations in Baringo. He encouraged the CoP team by saying that the entire Office of the President acknowledged and supported the peace initiative by the CoP group. He also added that he would sign a Memorandum of  Understanding with Creators of Peace in support of the peace initiative in Baringo County.

For most of the women attending the Peace Circle, it was a new experience - an experience they had never had before. Session after session, their excitement and curiosity was obvious. They opened their hearts and shared their deepest concerns, worries and even hopes. Their personal stories and experiences were moving and emotional. The challenges - mostly domestic violence and conflicts - were heart wrenching. But the women rose above the pains and hurts. One participant was quick to apply her lesson back home after the first day. She started to show love by welcoming her husband politely and he was delighted.  She was ready to walk the talk.

Jane, a woman who had faced so many challenges in her life was encouraged when she heard the personal stories of other women. She said that the Peace Circles had healed her wounded heart and she was ready to serve God without complaining. For Lydia, the Peace Circles ‘opened my inner eyes’ and she felt inspired to continue serving her community by taking care of the orphans and neglected children. Naomi was ready to forgive her in-laws who had made her life unbearable especially her late mother-in-law whom she hated so much.  Elizabeth’s marriage was full of pain after her husband left her for giving birth to five girls and no boy! The Peace Circles gave her a new beginning by choosing forgiveness and letting go her bitterness and focusing on her children. ‘The most powerful weapon one can be is an instrument of peace,’ said another of the participants.

The reflection sessions presented an opportunity for the women to begin the journey of forgiveness and healing and let go of their pains, hate and humiliation they had been carrying for so many years in order to make a difference in their lives and those of their families.Many of the women appreciated the efforts of the CoP team to go to the most remote places of Baringo, giving them an opportunity to be part of, for the first time ever, a non-academic training.  ‘This is the first training of its kind that I have attended since I was born. I am a totally different person.  May God continue to bless you so that you reach other women in need like us,’ said Mama Chiri.

Referring to the facilitators, the host, who is a Pastor’s wife, was also grateful. ‘It’s so touching to see that you leave your comfort zones and risk your lives by coming to our area which many people consider volatile, just to share with us these amazing teachings. I have been in many workshops in towns like Nakuru and Nairobi but none of the facilitators ever wanted to hear of coming to the grassroots, to the village, to the real place.  They just usually give us peace lectures from the comfort of their luxury hotels! However with you, I am so touched that you are walking with us and experiencing the process, first hand with us. May God bless you.’

The Creators of Peace Kenya team is grateful to the Swedish grant for the financial support that made this Peace Circles training possible. The team is also grateful to IofC Kenya for the general support that they offer to ensure the success of the program.

Facilitated and reported by Rachel Wamalwa and Esther Enzekella