Creators of Peace Newsletter August 2013
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AUGUST 2013 EDITION Creators of Peace “Global Connections” A Newsletter for reporting the voluntary efforts of women creating peace across the world’s divides An international program of Dr Christiane Garin Al-Azhari - Creators of Peace (retiring) International President Dear Creators of Peace friends and colleagues, Creators of Peace Circles (CoPC’s) bring a ray of hope and of sanity in a world in which genuine Peace seems to be a rare commodity and where far too many women are struggling for bare existence, respect and security. The demand for facilita- tors training from post conflict women’s groups is rising. It is also felt in cities far and wide. The CoP Circle manual is being translated into new languages, Kirundi (the language spoken in Burundi), Arabic, etc… It is a sign that it is relevant and timely. In a few days, in Caux, the CoP’s General Assembly will renew your committee and the team of country and inter- national coordinators. It shall also discuss the new Governance model we suggest to enhance our outreach and efficiency. This will, we trust, bring fresh initiatives and new strengths to encourage every woman to discover her true peace creating potential. As I step down as President, I am proud and grateful for the advances spearheaded worldwide by the inspired team of “CoP mid- wives” with whom I have been privileged to serve and I wish them and the new team Salaam, Shalom, Pace, Peace. A new ‘Governance Model’ President: Daphrose Ntarataze( Burundi/ At the July 2013 AGM CoP elected a new team of Switzerland); international coordinators, and paid tribute to for Creators of Peace Secretary: Pari Sanyü (Australia/Nagaland); the previous team with unmatched recognition. Treasurer: Kate Monkhouse (UK); It would be unwise to establish an exhaustive list Reflecting on a CoP guiding principle: “every National Teams Liaisons: Jean Brown of accomplishments to their credit. It is thanks to person has a part to play and something to (Australia) and Portia Mosia (South Africa); them that our network is currently working in contribute”, the retiring International Com- Programs: Shoshana Faire (Australia), more than 40 countries from different conti- mittee of Creators of Peace have designed a Communications: Iman Al Ghafari (Syria); nents. Thanks to the support of our flagship new governance model whereby nine Inter- People Care: Trish McDonald-Harrison IofC, CoP has become a much appreciated exten- national Coordinators will administer a spe- (Australia); sion of our worldwide network. cific Portfolio to serve the world network. Fundraising: Tanya Fox (Australia). And each Coordinator will have a Portfolio Most of the newly elected team of international coordinators are novices to a global network Working Team working alongside with them. A further twenty-one women from fifteen such as CoP, but each one is grateful for the countries have volunteered to support each Thanks to a shared passion and inner calling opportunity to capitalize on the expertise and to create peace the world over, the retiring Coordinator as their Portfolio Working Team. strong experience of our predecessors. Committee have overseen the global CoP network engender peace at a whole new A Message from the new CoP During my mandate I have the privilege to presi- level. President elect: de over preparations for the 25th Anniversary of CoP in 2016. It will be an honour to both cele- Our sincere thanks goes to the retiring Inter- Daphrose Ntarataze Barampama - brate and acknowledge the Creators of Peace national Committee who have served us over initiative which was launched in Caux / Switzer- the past three to five year term. They are: Burindi/Switzerland land in 1991 by the Honourable Anna Abdallah Executive Committee: President: Christiane « This morning, I saw Peace represented by two Msekwa of Tanzania. Garin Al-Azhari (Switzerland); Treasurer: images : A Plant, and a Burning Candle My hope is that anyone who is a member of our Monica McIntosh (Barbados/UK); Secretary: What a noble ambition to engage in the way of association, individually or collectively, will set a Trish McDonald-Harrison (Australia); Inter- peace making! target to celebrate the gift of CoP, and continue national Association Liaison: Jean Brown to plant their seeds of peace, and be candles of (Australia) Whether through our actions or attitudes, we light and halos of flames of hope, contributing International Coordinators: Christina De » plant seeds of peace in their light. Angelis (Australia); Didacienne Mukahabes- himana (Rawanda); Amina Dikedi-Ajakaiye ourselves first, and To read Daphrose’ message in her first (Nigeria/UK); Tehmina Siganoria (India); patiently we try to language, French, see Page 2 >>>>> Vijayalakshmi Subrahmanyan (India); Joanne maintain them to grow The Inaugural Meeting of the Nabbanja (Uganda); Njeri Kimanthi (Kenya); and flourish to produce Kate Monkhouse (UK) fruit that contain many 2013-2016 International Coordinators Regional Coordinators: East Africa: Dorothy other seeds which, in was held Friday 17 August 2013. Tingu; Southern and Central Africa: Jackie turn, will be plan- There was a great sense of excitement as we Euvard/Angie Katito; UK and Western ted ...and so the cycle of Peace or the cycle of linked up for our first Skype Meeting. Thanks life continues. to the miracles of technology, it resulted in a Europe: Su Riddell; South America: Helena Salazar (Von Armin); North America: Kathy The light that radiates from my inside, warms very productive meeting. Aquilina and illuminates the nuclear core that is my Our shared sense of spirit, and mutual calling Country Coordinators: Malaysia: Regina family or immediate circle. Each of my relati- to advance the work of CoP saw no barriers in Morris. ves takes this light, internalizes it and begins to our age, language and country time illuminate his own surroundings, and so on. differences, not even by Iman in war torn Syria! At the CoP General Assembly (AGM) in Caux, The light of my inner candle, thus from this A collaborative connection has now been Switzerland on 9 July 2013, nine International core, multiplies to infinity. It grows and even- forged and we’re all poised ready to embark on Coordinators from around the globe, were tually reaches wider horizons. This halo grows our vision for our individual Portfolios, feeling elected, answering a calling to serve CoP for a more and more, and the light extends further greatly encouraged and supported by our 3 year term of office. They are: than I can imagine. President Daphrose and Secretary Pari. Creators of Peace “Global Connections” Newsletter - August 2013 edition REPORTS OF CREATORS OF PEACE CIRCLES AROUND THE GLOBE Page 2 of 7 Mot de la présidente by Daphrose Ntarataze Barampama - Présidente d’Artisans de Paix Regular Feature Article: La paix, ce matin, s’est présentée à moi sous forme de deux images : une plante et une “On reflection of my CoP Journey” bougie allumée. Quelle noble ambition que celle de vouloir être des artisans de paix! Que ce soit par nos actes et nos attitudes, planter des graines de la paix en soi-même d’abord. Les entretenir pour qu’elles poussent, s’épanouissent, fleurissent, produisent des fruits qui Joyce Fraser - Sydney, Australia contiennent de nombreuses autres graines. Qui à leur tour seront plantées … Et le cycle de la Initiatives of Change Volunteer, and paix, le cycle de la vie continue. Creators of Peace Facilitator La lumière qui part de mon intérieur rayonne, réchauffe et illumine le noyau nucléaire qui est My journey ma famille ou mon entourage immédiat. Chacun de mes proches se saisit de cette lumière, started as a l’intériorise et se met à illuminer son entourage, et ainsi de suite. La lumière de ma bougie chance encoun- intérieure, qui part donc de ce noyau se démultiplie à l’infini. Elle s’agrandit et finit par atteindre ter in Britain in des horizons plus larges. Son halo s’agrandit de plus en plus et la lumière d’étend plus loin que je the early ‘60’s ne me l’imagine. that led me to Le 9 juillet de cette année 2013, notre Association s’est dotée d’une nouvelle équipe de the work of coordinatrices internationales. Avec une reconnaissance inégalée, nous tenons à rendre Initiatives of hommage à l’équipe précédente. Il serait hasardeux d’établir une liste exhaustive des Change (IofC) réalisations à son actif. Si notre réseau est actuellement à l’œuvre dans plus de 40 pays des where I then worked without a salary for divers continents, donc actuellement le plus répandu des membres affiliés à Initiatives et 11years. Changement international, c’est grâce à elle. Si notre programme-phare des Cercles d’Artisans Over the years my involvement has taken de paix est apprécié et appelé à une extension de plus en plus sollicitée, c’est grâce à elle. La me to Ethiopia, India and finally to Australia. nouvelle équipe de coordinatrices internationales, même si elle comprend trois membres de Then in 2004, I was asked to co-facilitate a l'équipe sortante, est consciencieuse du fait que la plupart de ses membres sont novices dans la Creators of Peace Circle (CoPC). My co- direction d'un réseau mondial comme le nôtre. Elle a la chance de pouvoir capitaliser l’expertise facilitator found Creators of Peace (CoP) on et l’expérience confirmées de ses prédécesseurs. Elle leur en sait déjà gré. the internet and was profoundly interested, En 2016, la fin du mandat de l’équipe que j’ai l’insigne honneur de présider coïncidera avec le although she didn’t know anything about 25ème anniversaire de « Femmes artisans de paix ». Vous savez bien que cette initiative a été IofC. lancée à Caux/Suisse, en 1991, par l’honorable Anna Abdallah Msekwa de Tanzanie.