Harambee Africa 6 one week outreach in Kaduna, Nigeria can be summed up in three words - insightful, informative and incredible.
I write to you from our new camp – Kano State in Northern Nigeria. It is three hours drive from Kaduna where we were based for the last eight days. Our time in Kaduna, working together with Imam Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye, can be summed up in three words - insightful, informative and incredible. Insightful, because of the stories that challenged and inspired us to affirm our commitment to change. Informative, for the learning we gained during the different visits we made. Incredible, because we had life-changing experiences that opened new chapters in our lives, meaning we can never be the same again.
Kaduna is one of the 36 states in Nigeria situated in the Northern region of the country and has been at the centre of ethno-religious conflict in recent past.
The Harambee team was hosted by the Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna, co-directed by Imam Ashafa and Pastor Wuye. The two shared with us their wealth of experience in peace-building and mediation, both at local and international levels. ‘Africa is in search of leadership. For us (Imam & the Pastor) we are motivated by our faith to build bridges,’ shared Imam Ashafa. ‘We are all in a state of confusion on issues of culture, religion and modernization.; How do we work with other religions without seeing them as enemies but as collaborators?’ he challenged the Harambeans. 
They also shared some of the challenges they are facing as peace creators, bridging the gaps created by ethnicity and religion. A continual challenge is that some people see them as compromisers, traitors or conservatives. Truly, they shared incredible experiences with us.
Pastor Wuye took us through the African Alternative Dispute Resolution Spectrum which explored creative ways of resolving conflict from traditional African systems of leadership. ‘I see leaders in you; people who will bring change in the society,’ he said. ‘Don’t just be listeners, be doers.’ He also helped the group understand, in a very simple and interactive way, how to analyze and map conflict.
During the eight-day outreach in Kaduna, the participants, together with some of the Harambee faculty and mentors, visited historic sites, national and local monuments and government institutions that promote peace. They also had the honour to be interviewed live on national TV and radio (Kaduna State Media).
While in Kaduna, the team shared messages of peace, love and unity. Each day one of the participants took charge and coordinated the day’s activities, including a briefing on the day’s schedule, delegating responsibilities to other team members and engaging with the team and our hosts throughout the day. At the end of the day, the participant’s leadership was evaluated and necessary feedback given. In this way, the participants got to explore different styles of leadership aside from their own. Also at the core of the outreach programme is a time of reflection first thing each morning, an opportunity for learning from each other through the frank sharing of stories and experiences.
After a week in Kaduna, this is what some participants shared:
Evans Kwakrye (Ghana): ‘I was moved when we visited Ahmed Yahaya who is involved in environment 
conservation through harnessing of solar energy and use of water bottles to construct houses. This was a real example of change that starts with self.It encouraged me to move on with my dreams and vision without minding what people will say. This man gave up a well paying job in Germany to follow his dream and transform his homeland. I think this is what the Harambee program is preparing us to do. To be leaders with a difference.’
Helen Yogo (Cameroon): ‘I enjoyed the visit to the media house (radio and TV) where we were hosed by Mrs Comfort Yusuf, the General Manager . It is very rare to find a woman of such calibre who has such a huge vision for Africa and the youth. She is truly a model for African women.’
Khalid Mohamadi (Afghanistan): ‘During the outreach, I experienced things I have never experienced before. Being in front of a reporter on national radio was an amazing and exciting experience. I was also excited learning about Yahawa’s solar energy system. It was my first experience of solar energy, something that I think could solve many of the problems in Africa.’
Samuel Muiruri (Kenya): ‘During the outreach, all the people we met had a story to tell. I have honestly discovered that our stories of change are powerful tools for engaging others for change. I have learned that teaching alone cannot save people but it’s the way we live that creates change.’
Hermela Zeleke (Ethiopia): ‘I loved working with the Imam and the Pastor and enjoyed learning how they resolve conflict and bridge the gaps between people. At times I felt ashamed that I know so little about my own country. I was challenged to be more aware of what’s happening around me and to seek solutions to problems rather than expecting others to do things for me.’
The 6th Harambee programme in Nigeria is on its final lap. The curtain falls on Sunday 20 November 2011 with the hope that participants will go back to their respective communities with a renewed hope for Africa and the energy to build the better tomorrow we want to see.
Meet and get to know the Harambee 6 participants here.
