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THIS publication highlights experiences of Burnt Forest and Likoni people who took part in an intercommunity exchange organized by Peace-Net in collaboration with Civil Peace Service (CPS) between September and October 2013.
The participants were hosted in the homes of the respective community members where they experienced a new lifestyle, established new friendships, discovered business opportunities and exchanged ideas freely.
The whole exchange activity was their initial idea. They conceived it, took a lead role in the implementation process, documented their experiences and shared them with fellow community members and other peace builders.
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This pictorial highlights the entire process - emphasizing on how they captured their experiences on camera and recounted them to others who did not participate directly in the process.
The exchange serves an example of how a community can take initiative and participate in a simple activity that is apt to transform their lives for the better. Their role in transforming conflicts in their regions was enhanced by the
exchange - as reflected in their views:Susan Rono, Burnt Forest: “We did not know the people in Likoni experienced land problems. A s a result of the exchange, we understand much about conflicts in the area .”
Msomali Rashid: We were surprised to learn that the Kalenjin and Kikuyu communities have established strong ties after the 2007/2008 post election violence.” The exchange activity was part of ‘Grass roots Towards Cohesion’
project that aims at fostering cohesion in Burnt Forest, Uasin Gishu County and Likoni (Mombasa County). The exchange exercise was organized as follows:-
- Participants from both communities were selected - 18 from Likoni and 17 from Burnt Forest. - They underwent a photography training and briefing before travelling to Burnt Forest and Likoni.
- Likoni participants visited Burnt Forest in September 2013 where they spent three days interacting with their hosts and learning more about the area. - With help from Peace-Net and CPS, they organized a presentation
to share their gained knowledge and experience to a larger community audience in the region.
on display and listened to the exchange account from the participants.
The exhibition that was held on 21st November 2013 brought together over 200 participants who viewed the pictures that were
Similarly, Burnt Forest residents visited Likoni in October 2013 after which a community exhibition was organized in January 2014.
On 28th January 2014, both teams from Likoni and Burnt Forest convened in Nairobi at the GIZ Guest where they shared their exchange experience with key stakeholders in peace building sector.
The participant thanked Peace-Net and CPS for organizing the activities, though we believe that they deserve much credit for hatching the idea, participating actively in the implementation
process and sharing the fruits of their initiative. Keep sharing your experiences! Such little things can add up to enhance long-lasting peace!
an idea is born Burnt Forest and Likoni residents decide to take charge of their own destiny - after being licked with the flames of conflict. Aware that great things come in small packages, they conceive an idea that Peace-Net and CPS find interesting...
taking action IT all began with the thought: what if exchange visits were organized to enhance sharing of conflict transformation experiences? It emerged that most of the Burnt Forest residents had never been at the Coast. Similarly, Likoni residents seemed to have internalized the negative ‘cockpit of conflict image’ about Burnt Forest as a result of the 2007/2008 post election violence.
training Participants selected to represent their communities in Burnt Forest and Likoni underwent training in Nairobi focusing on: Briefing from Peace-Net and CPS about the exchange. Documenting experiences by taking photographs.
practice makes perfect Participants from both regions did not hesitate to exercise their photography skills before departure from Nairobi...
e exchange p e r i e n c e s napshots Having been trained on how to document their experiences, they did not hesitate to capture the ‘arrival shots’.
Sharing conflict experiences
Relaxing at the beach
A taste of coastal cuisine
New friendships
a warm welcome in Burnt Forest
Working together
New friendships
New friendhips
Serving mukimo together
sharing ideas
Transport challenges
What they said... LUCY NG’ENDO
My dignity was grossly affected especially when we became Internally Displaced People.
The 2007 – 2008 post election violence that rocked The harrowthe country ing experiences changed my life – at first Mrs Ng’endo outside her house in Kamuyu village, Burnt Forest fomented and piled hate for worse, against the Kalenjin community in then for the better. my heart. I blamed them for the predicament and swore never to Everything was going on For how interact with them again. well before the violence long can occurred. I tilled my 14 acre you sustain But for how long can you suspiece of land peacefully and hate when supported my family. surrounded tain hate when surrounded with love? I thank Peace-Net and CPS with love? for your work in this region. You Then violence erupted! I made me realize that I could not lost everything – livestock, sustain hate any longer. crops, everything.
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Since the area (Burnt Forest) was affected by the 2008/2008 Post Election violence, we somehow expected the people to be hostile and less hospitable. To our dismay, they were generally a cordial lot!” - Rehema Ali, Likoni
Many thanks to PeaceNet and CPS for organizing the exchange. I have now developed ideas on how to transform conflict and enhance peace in our community.’’ - Rashid Mwashuhuli, Likoni
This publication has been produced by Peace-Net Kenya with support from Civil Peace Service (CPS), German Cooperation and Deutsche Gesellschaft f端r Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH For more information, contact us:Peace and Development Network Trust (PeaceNet Kenya) Swiss Cottages, Ring Road off Riverside Drive PO Box 49806-00100 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254-20-2637718 +254-20-2699434 email:peacenet@peacenetkenya or ke www peacenetkenya or ke