Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Author: 
Ann Njeri

Meru is one of the richest and most peaceful counties in Kenya. During the International day of Peace, the International Peace Initiative (IPI) organisation under the leadership of Dr Karambu Ringera, brought different people from the region together to celebrate the peace that they have had in the region. 

Following the International Day of Peace, IPI had invited Initiatives of Change - Kenya to run a three day Creators of Peace Circles workshop for 15 women leaders from different corners of Meru county. Despite the fact that the county has enjoyed and continues to enjoy a considerable amount of physical peace, there still is a gap in terms of having sustainable peace which, according to one wise man, can only be attained if there is both outer peace and inner peace. Meru is a true affirmation of the wise words of Mahatma Gandhi, ‘peace is not the absence of violence’. 

‘Women can create peace if they really want’ said one of the ladies. ‘They are the catalysts for war and violence. They can be catalysts for peace’ she continued. As the women went through the different gathering points of the Peace Circles, these women leaders were learning about peace in a different light. ‘Peace is a journey that all of us must accept to trend on if we want peace,’ shared one of them. While another one said that she never knew the real source of peace and she confessed that she used to look for it in revenge. Some were learning what kind of people they have been. ‘I have been creating peace and destroying it. I have learnt how not to destroy the peace I have created.’ Another one shared, ‘Before I couldn’t say sorry, but now I can.’

When the workshop came to a close, the women couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to attend the training. They had laughed together, cried together and mostly bonded at a very deep level. ‘The three days have transformed my whole being. I leave this place healed.’ ‘I have been changed to someone else. I was a hard one and if you wronged me, I can’t forgive you. Today I can forgive.’ ‘I will be a role model for peace starting in my family and society’, were some of the sentiments shared by the women leaders. 

During the evaluation, on answering the question of how the workshop would impact their public and private lives, over 75% said it would tremendously impact their lives. They also requested for the workshop to be taken far and wide to reach more women. Some of them, including the president of IPI, asked for facilitation training. 

The workshop was facilitated by Ann Njeri Ndiangui.