A tribute to Local PeaceBuilders

At times the aching heart never stops neither do the tears stop flowing; but as left my home to go to Paretz the place felt like home with rivers flowing, the beautiful lake and the walk to the academy not forgetting the hospitality of the entire village.

I will share my journey as me; I was just another teary bubble.  Eight months ago I lost my dad and on that day I felt half of my heart died with him. It has been tough since, there was need to go deeper than community peace and somehow my path to inner peace was already set. I am from two fighting communities, you can feel the hatred even as we share the common space but my dad and mum married and had me a child of mixed blood; the same blood flows in my veins without fighting, why do we fight in the 1^st place.

I allowed myself to be vulnerable and to let out all the pain; I reflected on my personal journey to peace and how at times I walk away from my own initiatives and let it die as other people scrambled for it. It was hard for me to speak up as my little voice murmured within me, instead of talking to the team I will talk to my inner self. Just day one I realised I cannot afford to be silent anymore but there was need to broaden my horizon.  The issue of resilience was raised and I was not sure if I was but somehow I always find the strength to bounce back even in the weakest of moments.

A chance to have a reflection on my Organisation; It has been 13 years since I left college and went back home to start HODI. Always doing something and not having enough time to STOP and reflect, this was the chance for me to re-look at my organisation. The focus has been how do we bridge the gap and increase our impact. Reach more people without opening offices all over the place. There was lots of sharing in the room from other local PeaceBuilders like me, but just then I felt there was lots to hear, lots we can share and learn from each other. What will be my pick from a researcher on peace?.........lots which we slide under without knowing. Next day was making the connections as civil society then we had to wrap up and leave for Berlin.

As we looked at each other in the eyes without saying a word tears started flowing just knowing what the space meant to us and the heart begging to be given another chance to just connect with the local PeaceBuilders. Amid the safe space I found a child in me, who wanted to ride a bicycle and as I almost fell each time but each moment was rejuvenating. Trying to hold myself together and just being strong when inside me I felt empty. Somehow I needed the space to be away from home a space safe enough for me to curl up and cry. But I cried no more being nominated for the Global PeaceBuilders Summit was a humbling experience. 

I was able to reach deep into my aching heart, STOP to reflect on my journey as me. I had a chance to sing and beat the drums; a chance to just laugh my heart out; a chance to go on a boat with the lovely team who are now my sisters and brothers. The space was so small, the connections so intimate and sincere, each one of us left with peace in the heart. There were moments of getting to kick some ball, some amazing moments of crawling and just chatting away the connections. To the dreamers of this dream, thank you for the gift of peace in my heart. Thank you for the one on one connection, I will take each of you with me in my heart, your peace journey will be my journey and your crisis will be my crisis. You held my hands when I was down; wiped away my tears as it just flowed. Gave me courage as I felt alone, I take back your strength with me.  

As we all left Paretz the home of peace to Berlin it was a different level meeting with the Political leaders in Parliament and the Ministry of Foreign affairs. Again  thank you for creating the safe space for us to link at personal, emotional and intellectual level. The common and mutual learning continues and already we are connecting the small dots as local PeaceBuilders. Now that we are all safely home one thing is very clear Our Purpose as Local PeaceBuilders Together for Global Peace.

On this day of Peace, this is a special tribute to the 30 local PeaceBuilders who met in Paretz. To the dreamers of this dream the Peace Counts programs under Culture Counts and the wonderful insights from the entire organising team. It would not have been the same if it was in a city but my heart goes out to Paretz the Home of Peace. 

Unsung-heroine-quest-to-replace-bullet-with-football

I am humbled by the 13 years of my work and despite the challenges, making it this far as HODI!

http://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/DN2/Unsung-heroine-quest-to-replace-bullet-with-football/957860-3338770-5kftd7z/index.html

Football a game for men to many but you made it my game; again I was just a girl.

The past six months have not been an easy one and for anyone who has gone through a loss you can bear me witness. It is exactly six months today and I have been doing bits and pieces of my journey with you in my life and how you have nurtured me to be just ME!

Born in Moyale and went to school in Moyale Primary, and as fate will have it you came to Marsabit Boys which you always described as very cold and chilly. I remember the stories you shared of how mist covered the entire town and buffalo's grazed in the school compound.  Only few from Moyale were in Marsabit Boys and the traders from Moyale will pick you up with your colleagues for a flight back home. Returning to Marsabit after pursuing a course in teaching again fate brought you back to Marsabit and here you met mum and married on 20th Oct 1977 blessed with 5 children.

I came into your life on 21st August 1978 as a first born; you celebrated my birth even though I was just a girl....you called me Honey...which was a special name and how much I meant to you. You held my hands and walked with me each day telling me how great I was and at times even after screaming at me, you always reassured me you meant well. A bold step you took and you were always Baba Honey and Mama Honey but I was just a girl! The roles at home were distributed equally and never did I feel I was doing all the work; cooking, cleaning the dishes; washing cloths we all did. I was never treated differently from my brothers again I was just a girl!

Taking my hand and walking with you each day and by night we never missed a game even if it was in middle of the night. In the 1990 World Cup we watched as Cameroon crashed Argentina the defending champions 1-0; then they took on Romania, Soviet Union and then Colombia 2-1 with Roger Milla scoring 2 goals at extra time. Our hopes were dimmed by England as they eliminated the Indomitable Lions 3-2 at extra time. Football a game for men to many but you made it my game; again I was just a girl.

The Katongo Brothers were your next favorites after Roger Miller; The Chipolopolo (Bullets) in the rebirth of a team that was rebuilt after the plane crash killing all the players....this are not stories a dad will share with a girl but you did baba......It is still very fresh  how the President of Zambia Kenneth Kaunda was involved in football and the team named KK11. Then the moment when they lifted the title against Ivory Coast, dedicating it to the Zambian Team that perished in the plane crash. You never missed a game; be it Africa Cup of Nations; Euro Cup; World Cup but you shared all these moments with us all even though I was just a girl.

You set a new path in my life and the DREAM you nurtured has seen me travel the world. As I set out to start the organisation I faced lots of challenges but you always had my back. Football is not a thing for girls but you made my dream a reality. With football I traveled to Germany; Italy; England; Canada; Brazil; USA; South Africa; just to mention a few. Recently I was in Colombia sharing my story of football and the dream for Peace in a war torn country. A few days a go my long time dream of taking a HODI team to International became a reality; we made it Lyon France for Festival 16. Here I met 3 Zambian Brothers; A girl from Lebanon; 3 Friends from Israel and Palestine; over 65 countries present and for once I wished you were here to celebrate my little steps.

My passion for football is inborn but you nurtured it and guided me to these path; little did you know I wanted to play football as a kid but I never had a chance. When I took the ball and went to the pitch you always followed me behind.I will always spot you in the crowd cheering the team but above all looking out for a daughter you very much loved! In the beginning I felt I had disappointed you by dropping the law degree and opting for football. When a fight broke out between the teams, you always next to me just ensuring your girl is not hit.......I know you will take a BULLET for me! always telling me how scared you were for me; Most times I will travel to the places where people have been killed and will only share with you upon my return. I knew you will not let me go if you knew in advance. But each day as you interacted with the young boys and girls and what the football meant for them you gave me your blessings....I will not forget the day you said to me "I am very Proud of you Baba.....I walk with my head held high knowing you are my daughter"

On this day I draw Courage from your words and as I SHOOT TO SCORE GOALS FOR PEACE; I pray that Baba you rest in Eternal PEACE!!!