Overcoming inner challenges - Creators of Peace in Eldorado, Soweto
Initiatives of Change through the Creators of Peace programme and in collaboration with Sunshine Eldorado Centre, held a Peace Circle from 19th - 21st April. It is always a pleasure for us, the Creators of Peace team, to continue reaching the masses through the Sunshine Centre for disabled children. The plea was to help the attendees, eight mothers and Guardians of new learners at the school, with confidence, self love and how to handle grief.
“These women,” commented Lena, the senior social worker, “carry so much. They battle mostly with past hurt, acceptance of their disabled children, family displacement, homelessness and unemployment.”“What moved me,” Lena continued, “was when the women individually named the inner challenges like jealousy, anger, hatred, and gossiping”.
Then as a group started to share ways they could overcome their inner challenges. This proved to me that whatever the challenge, an answer is available from within when one gives time to reflect and listen.” One participant, Khanyi, after the Art of Listening session shared that, “in all my adult life, I now realise I have been communicating wrongly. I want to improve that. I also want to change the culture transferred to me that as an adult I do not listen to my child. My child is the only one who has to listen to me. I am starting to make room and allow my child to teach me through her sharing.”
Makushla, a facilitator in training shared that, “with the busyness of life's events like work, friends, children and responsibilities one carries, I realise that I have been neglecting to care for my 'inner garden', and from now on I will make more time to nurture, connect and correct and follow the path in my inner garden.”
Looking ahead the women mentioned people they care for whom they would like to introduce to a Peace Circle. They also requested to have an anger management workshop offered by the Creators of Peace programme.
With gratitude to Initiatives of Change South Africa, Edmee Botteron, Switzerland and to Sunshine Eldorado Centre for the financial and resource support enabling the success of the Creators of Peace programme in South Africa.
Report by Cleo Mohlaodi, Portia Mosia and Makushla Layters