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 1st 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.
