Mikaela says:
I'm part of an e-mail list of facilitators in New Mexico. An update from Africa shows the still conflicted professional efforts to work in disadvantaged countries. The kinds of role play and education workshops described below are innovative attempts to empower local communities to solve and resolve problems by strengthening their skills and knowledge of what's possible. At the same time, the trip described below was a few months -- dropping from the sky, helping with a few workshops, and hopping back in a plane to a plane to a plane and landing again in New Mexico.
Still, the work toward peace in countries on the edge or at the center of war is hugely important. Why NOT share knowledge with people who might benefit? But if you do, how best to engage as an American? As a white person? As a Westerner? Keep these questions in mind as you read.
[W]e are having a great time in East Africa. The work has gone really well and been very rewarding. ...
In September I conducted the two workshop in Uganda that brought me to Africa. One was with 60 educators from the area of Entebbe -- outside of Kampala. The people were so warm and enthusiastic. My hosts and my co-trainer were both extremely fun to be around and also very professional and organized. The workshop focus on conflict resolution and mediation in schools and the wider community. The role plays were a highlight (the enthusiams and acting beats any I have seen in the U.S.).
The second workshop was organized by The Muslim Women's Desk Empowerment Initiative. I was one trainer/facilitator among a host of local education specialist. We had one day with students and another with teachers - both from Muslim founded schools. I have a very positive, eye opening experience working with the African Muslim community.
I also connected with a Ugandan woman, Stella Sabiiti, who is well known regionally and internationally as peacebuilder trainer. She is a close friend of Mary Margret Golten. I invited her to conduct a half-day training on African traditional Methods of conflict resolution at our workshop in Entebbe. As a result of this experience, she invited me to co-train with her at 5 day workshop in Western Uganda near the border with Congo. We were working with local community leaders who are working to become peacebuilders and mediators in their region. The Rwenzori region had suffered from armed rebel insugency from 1996-2001 and many people had been displaced. They are now integarting them back into their communities.
The workshop was a great success, and it was extremely rewarding to watch and learn from Stella, who is a very dynamic and special woman.
I have also been fortunate to set-up a workshop in West Pokot (rift valley area) of Kenya in late November. It all sounds exciting I am sure. Of course it has had its challenges, but they have really been minor thus far. I am thankful.
When I have not been working I have reaped some of the rewards of what this land has to offer - lots of wildlife, Gorilla treking in the Mountains near Rwanda, whitewater rafting on the Nile from its source at Lake Victoria, etc.
Africa is of course a socially, economically, and politically tough place. There are many things that are frustrating to see. War continues in Northern Uganda and people are suffering in many ways. Unfortunately, the Lord's Resistance Army (rebels led by the now infamous Joseph Kony) are now targeting foreigners who are part of humanitarian efforts in the North. This hit close to home when two days ago a young Brit, who owns the lodge I have been staying at, was shot by rebels while driving on a remote road in the North.
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