Women building peace from within
Coming together for Peace
The Creators of Peace Circle Workshop which started from July 29 – August 2, 2024, brought together women from Jonglei State, Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), Lakes State, and Central Equatoria State for a five-day workshop. The workshop aimed to create a safe space where women from diverse cultural, economic, and regional backgrounds could connect, build networks, form sisterhoods and envision their roles as peace builders. In this space, they shared their stories, explored their roles in building peace within their families and communities, and discovered the power of unity in diversity. These women came from communities with a long history of fighting and killing one another. Some of them have firsthand experience of the impact of these inter-communal conflicts. Despite these wounds, the workshop provided a unique opportunity for them to see each other as women first, setting aside the divisions, history and wounds that sometimes tend to define their interactions.
Reflections on Peace
Throughout the workshop, the women engaged in deep reflection on what "peace" truly means – not just as a community or a country, but on a personal level. They examined the factors that build peace and those that destroy peace. Discussions centered on inner peace, forgiveness, self-care, self-love, gratitude, and turning pain to purpose, offering a holistic approach to peacebuilding. One participant reflected, "Nobody has taught me to sit by myself and reflect on my life and how I can face the challenges in my life and my community." This sentiment highlights the power of introspection and self-awareness as foundational steps toward peace. Another participant shared, "I used to move with a lot of fear – fear of being judged, fear of being wrong, fear of speaking out for myself and my community. But being here, all I feel is love, and I am beginning to see the value of speaking for myself and my community." The atmosphere of the workshop allowed the women to confront their fears and replace them with a sense of belonging, courageness and acceptance.
Building a community of women from all walks of life
The workshop also featured informal lunch-hour conversations with professional women from various fields. One notable guest was Hon. Angelina Teny, the Minister of Interior. She shared her personal journey with Creators of Peace, explaining how she has done Creators of Peace Circles in the past, and how it has impacted both her personal life and leadership journey. In her remarks, Hon. Angelina emphasized the importance of managing internal challenges to better handle external ones, noting that our reactions often arise from unresolved internal issues rather than the actions of others. She challenged conventional views on leadership, asserting that women are already leaders and can exercise leadership at all levels, not just at the national level. Hon. Angelina also shared how, in difficult political situations, the ability to separate issues, maintain self-awareness, and cultivate inner peace kept her grounded. “This inner peace can stay with you through storms and under the fire, if you let it”.
Hon Angelina Teny shared with participants her experience of the inner journey towards peace
Towards the end of the workshop, one participant reflected on the profundity of such a space and experience. “I never had a space where I could tell my story and I am listened to, valued and not judged. When we wept after sharing our stories, it is because of the relief we feel from letting out the weight of the stories we’ve kept inside us for a long time. The safety of this circle is nothing I have felt before’’. This participant expressed the desire to be able to create safe spaced for women in her community.
More information on the Creators of Peace Circles is available on the Creators of Peace International website.
