Creators of Peace Circles in the slums of Nairobi

Last week we shared about the Peace Circles that took place in Nakuru county. This week we take you to the county of Nairobi and just in case you don’t know, Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya.  Our facilitators took the Peace Circles to a total of 50 women from the slums of Korogocho, Huruma and Dandora.

Peace Circles in Korogocho

‘This is not the usual peace workshops that we have been attending. Through Creators of Peace I am free from the bitterness that I have carried for a very long time due to the pain caused to me by friends and relatives after the death of my husband,’ were the words of one of the 18 ladies who took part in the Korogocho Peace Circles from 11 to 13 June, 2014.

A young footballer, a lady by the name of Sambi, was very touched by the experience. ‘I am really happy since this training has opened my eyes. I will take this programme to my teammates with whom I play football. Most of them are young people who have their own challenges.’ 

The story sharing was, as always, a transformative point for many. Every participant was given an opportunity to share their personal life story - about experiences that have made them who they are. ‘This programme is wonderful. Through story sharing it makes one feel appreciated. I feel that even the stigmatized groups would be comfortable and would feel good and appreciated in Peace Circles as most of the time they are bitter about their conditions and feel people do not like and love them’ expressed Moureen.

Another participant, Rose, said that she learnt that she was the only person who could change the things that were not going right in her life. ‘The Peace Circles have helped to take away all the bitterness in my heart and I have also gotten the heart to forgive those that had wronged me.'

‘I am responsible in searching for missing peace in my life. Peace should start with me and then spread to other people’, echoed Mary.

Peace Circles in Huruma

From 17 to 19 June, 2014  we reached out to 12 women in the Huruma slums. This was a group of special participants because most of them were living with the HIV virus. But in spite of that, they were willing to be Peace Creators in their own lives, family and even in the society. Forgiveness, as always, was one of the biggest challenges for many. It is unbelievable how people carry bitterness, hatred and unforgiveness in their hearts, but Creators of Peace Circles is definitely breaking these chains and creating a platform for love and appreciation.

Margaret shared how she has been facing stigmatization and rejection by her family but is now willing to take a step of forgiveness.  ‘Thank you for this programme of Peace Circles for it has made me realize I need to forgive my brother. We haven’t talked for many years and we don’t visit each other. He cannot visit my family because of the stigmatization, but I am ready to break the silence’, she said.

‘This training has helped me to control my anger. Previously I would hit anyone who would talk ill of me. I feared nobody, but now I have realized my mistakes. I have learnt I should forgive people so that I could also be free of bitterness’, said Wafula.

Monicah saw the need to go and apologise to her neighbour whom she had exchanged bitter words with for taking her slippers. She had no money to buy another pair and she was going through a very difficult time. ‘After going through the Creators of Peace Circle, I feel free of bitterness and I am ready to go and ask for forgiveness from her,’ Monicah shared.

Peace Circles in Dandora

From 25 to 28 June, 2014, 20 participants, including four men, took part in the training. ‘I am very glad that I was invited to this training because I used to be selective to whom I would listen. I would easily make an assumption that a particular person has nothing important to say and I would decide not to listen to them’, shared Paul.  ‘Peace Circles has helped me to see the importance of good listening and from now on I will be listening to people before judging them’, he concluded.

Pamela, a middle aged lady, shared her troubled life experience.  When her stepmother refused to support her and her siblings, she dropped out of school and started selling bhang and changaa (an illegal brew) which eventually landed her in Langata Women’s prison. Somehow, she managed to escape from prison and fled to Uganda where she remained for two years before returning to Kenya. ‘I have been very bitter with my stepmum for I feel she has been the cause of my miseries and pain. I had decided I will never forgive her but thanks to Peace Circles I have learnt that not forgiving her harms me more. From here, I shall go and look for her and let her know I have forgiven her,’ she shared.

Stephen, who serves on the peace committee for that area, was very happy to have been part of the training. ‘I have learnt how to peacefully relate with other people. Whenever there is conflict in my area, it is usually very difficult to bring people together but Peace Circles has taught me how to handle people who have differences,’ he said.

The facilitators of the workshops were Annie Gitu & Wambui Nguyo for Korogocho and Huruma areas and Mediatrix Masava & Annie Gitu for Dandora.

Next week we shall take you to the city of Eldoret.

It is with much appreciation and humility that we wish to thank the Irene Prestwitch Trust (IPT) for the financial support that made these Creators of Peace Circles possible.

By Njeri Kimanthi & Annie Gitu