Colombia Brings Reconciliation Methods to Uganda
In the tradition of the Goldin Institute's Forgiveness and Reconciliation Project, and utilizing the ESPERE methodology developed with our colleagues in Colombia, our efforts towards building child soldier reintegration continues throughout Northern Uganda.
As our Global Associate on the ground in Uganda (Denis Okello) recently reported to us in this summary paper, both Kitgum and Amuru districts have suffered greatly from armed violence and conflict. The instability in the area results in the ongoing recruitment and coercion of countless adults and children into the rebel forces. As Denis tells it, "in some way or capacity, each and every household in Northern Uganda has suffered the direct effects of the conflict in terms of abduction, death, displacement, poverty or illness." Against this backdrop, both districts serve as ideal communities to workshop the methods of ESPERE, bringing effective training to those within the community wishing to cope with the effects of war – and also those hoping to better their lives.
In the Kitgum District, Denis' report focused on a workshop conducted specifically for secondary and vocational school teachers. Here, educators could be equipped with the knowledge and skills on the process of forgiveness and reconciliation in order for them to effectively respond to the needs of their students who have been directly impacted by the civil war that they have grown up in.
In the Amuru District, Denis overviewed the specific training to former child combatants, young mothers, and orphaned young adults of the conflict who have been left to become the 'heads' of their households. Denis provided the history and background, and explained that within Amuru, the sub-county of Pabbo was one of the first and largest camps for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) during the LRA War between 1986 and 2006. After the end of hostilities in 2006, the displaced persons, former combatants, victims of atrocities and children born from captivity within the LRA, flooded back to many parts of Pabbo. It is important to point out that Denis and his own family have been impacted by the conflict's history and because of his training directly from our Global Associate Lissette Mateus Roa, was uniquely qualified to be one of the three facilitators of Amuru Workshop.
Workshops Follow Ongoing Committment to the Issue of Child Soldiers
The trainings held by Denis and his team on the ground in both Kitgum and Amuru Districts, would not have been possible without prior research conducted in Northern Uganda with former child soldiers. Released late last year, we published the guide, Alone and Frightened, to provide first-hand accounts and experiential stories of former child soldiers affected by the brutal war pitting the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) against the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF). Our extensive research with our partners in the region (including our former Global Associate from Kenya, Dr. Dorcas Kipligat, who served as the Project Coordinator to the report), provides an ongoing resource guide to all new workshops being conducted in Africa.
Readers familiar with the origins of the ESPERE methodology, will remember that it is made up several modules reinforcing the two phases of forgiveness and reconciliation. A link to an early version of what this looked liked as it was piloted in Colombia can be found here. The slideshow that we have put together at the end of this story is remarkable in the consistencies between the exercises in Latin America and those taking place to make up the workshops in Uganda.
We are excited to see from the expansion of the project from Latin America to East Africa, how in spite of the cultural, ethnic and societal differences between two unique continents and their people, the methods being shared for forgiveness and reconciliation are held in common. What we are learning in facilitating these trainings is the universal nature of how most all people impacted by conflict have the capacity to embrace these methods. Please follow along in the narrative slideshow below to see this happening in Kitgum and Amuru.
Partner and Peace Advocate in US
NPR's WorldView focuses on Fr. Leonel Narvaez
We are excited to announce that our friend and colleague, Fr. Leonel will be making a live appearance on NPR's WorldView news program on Monday, April 13 at 12 p.m. central time. Fr. Leonel will speak about his work promoting forgiveness and reconciliation in his home country of Colombia, share insights about the ongoing formal peace negotiations between the FARC and the government of Colombia and the expansion of child soldier reintegration model to the Goldin Institute's partners in Uganda.
Those familiar with our work with Fr. Leonel know that he is highly regarded for his peace-building efforts around the globe through his work in Colombia with the Foundation for Reconciliation. He has dedicated his life to building peace in the understanding that "violence is the failure of dialogue." Amongst his many accolades, Leonel has been awarded the Great Cross of Civil Merit by the City of Bogota for his contribution to peace in the city. In Paris in 2007, he received the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education. In 2008, the Congress of the Republic of Colombia honored him with the Order of Democracy.
International awards aside, we know personally and professionally how Fr. Leonel has worked tirelessly through his efforts at the Foundation to inspire and train over 25,000 facilitators reaching countless beneficiaries around the world in new methods of peace and reconciliation. Fr. Leonel's powerful presentations and sermons have changed the face of reconciliation efforts across the globe and the ESPERE methodology has expanded from its modest beginnings in Colombia to 15 other countries, such as Uganda, where we work closely seeing the growth of this project.
Please join us by tuning in to Fr. Leonel's live interview on April 13 at 12:20 p.m. on National Public Radio. This link will be active for live listening from your computer or mobile during the stream of the show.
NPR Worldview Interview on Colombia Peace Process with Fr. Leonel Narvaez
If you missed the opportunity to hear our friend and colleague Fr. Leonel Narvaez on the WorldView news program April 14, you can stream it now:
In this interview, Fr. Leonel speaks about the ongoing negotiations in Cuba that give promise to a proposed peace agreement for his country. He also puts into context the concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation and how they have been practiced through his leadership at the Foundation for Reconciliation in Colombia and around the world.
About Fr. Leonel and his work in Latin America
Those familiar with our work with Fr. Leonel know that he has dedicated his life to building peace in the understanding that "violence is the failure of dialogue." Amongst his many accolades, Leonel has been awarded the Great Cross of Civil Merit by the City of Bogota for his contribution to peace in the city. In Paris in 2007, he received the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education. In 2008, the Congress of the Republic of Colombia honored him with the Order of Democracy.
International awards aside, we know personally and professionally how Fr. Leonel has worked tirelessly through his efforts at the Foundation to inspire and train over 25,000 facilitators reaching countless beneficiaries around the world in new methods of peace and reconciliation. Fr. Leonel's powerful presentations and sermons have changed the face of reconciliation efforts across the globe and the ESPERE methodology has expanded from its modest beginnings in Colombia to 15 other countries, such as Uganda, where we work closely seeing the growth of this project.
Uganda: Forgiveness and Change Starts At Home
Working towards the peaceful evolution of their country, two Uganda-based organizations, the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI) and the Interreligious Council of Uganda (IRCU) worked closely to conduct two workshops using the ESPERE Methodology in January and early February 2015 in the District of Gulu. The facilitators for the workshops had the benefit of being trained at the June 2014 workshop in Uganda led and organized by our Global Associate Lissette Mateus Roa. Each successful attendee will carry forward the accomplishments and lessons learned from their participation to benefit their communities at large.
The workshops were developed to cater to the specific needs of the local program participants. The first workshop held Jan. 21–28, 2015 focused on those who were victims or survivors of the May 2004 Lukodi Massacre wherein the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) raided and carried out an attack that led to the deaths of over 60 individuals in the town of Lukodi in Gulu District. The workshop itself was held at Lukodi Primary School and many of the participants were members of the Lukodi Reconciliation Team, a group made up of victims and survivors of the Massacre. Facilitator and participants alike exhibited strong enthusiasm for the program and despite literacy challenges, the group completed all eleven modules.
The second workshop was conducted from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, 2015 at Laroo Boarding Primary School in Laroo Division; Gulu Municipality. Participants consisted of 15 teachers from five Primary Schools all of which offer educational services to those in need including, formerly abducted persons, child mothers, street children and those with special needs. Program participants from this workshop as well were successful in completing all eleven modules.
The Modules of ESPERE – An Overview and How They Were Used
The ESPERE methodology uses a standard procedure in its approach to the process of forgiveness, refined slightly for each unique participant set. Similar to the June 2014 workshop, eleven modules shaped the program. Listening exercises at the onset of the workshop helped each participant understand the importance of being an active listener and an active participator.
The first module paired individuals together to form a safe space wherein each person spoke about the experience that had hurt or traumatized them. In the second module, participants learned through role playing how aggression affects emotions, thoughts, and behavior and determines the consequences of pain on physical and emotional health. Program participants found themselves identifying with the fictional role they were playing; prompting many to further share stories of instances where rage worked as a blindfold preventing them from seeing clearly. Program participants made a commitment to help others come out of the darkness created by rage.
In the third module, participants were led through a process of choice; participants had the choice of selecting unknown wrapped items, each item symbolizing an alternative leading to forgiveness. Ultimately, each participant actively chose to forgive and made a commitment of hope. After choosing to forgive, the fourth module focused on perspective, emphasizing that no two people will interpret a situation in the same way and many times someone will commit offenses for reasons that they deem as justified. Understanding these reasons helps provide a new perspective of the offender, resulting in a possible step towards common ground.
This led directly into module five which prompted participants to make a list of both positive and negative aspects of their offenders and imagine a meeting with that offender. Module six had participants in a very literal sense of the phrase, wash away the pain. The symbolic gesture, after speaking about their offenses, choosing forgiveness, and attempting to understand their offender brought relief to some and a step in the right direction for many program participants. The next four modules took program participants through the identification of valued principles, caring for and protecting principles, and most importantly, rebuilding and restoring broken principles. Participants were given ideas to repair broken principles, including conversation initiators, apologies, or a symbolic act as reparation - ultimately to reestablish a relationship. Finally, the last module provided practical understanding that although painful memories may never be completely forgotten, reworking them helps participants enter into the state of communion with freedom, solidarity and peace.
Most inspiring, despite their traumatizing past, the human spirit moved the Gulu participants in the workshop with the end goal of connecting with their brethren and looking towards a better future; proving once again that forgiveness and reconciliation rises above hate, and furthers the advancement of humanity.
To view the full report and see more photos from the ESPERE-Uganda Project, see this link. To find out how to take a more active role and support our work building grassroots partnerships like the ones we've established in Africa and Colombia, please visit here.
[slide] [img path="images/10967360_796381027082475_2015717359_o.jpg"] Gulu Workshops - Photo credit: Denis Okello and our team in Uganda. [/img] [img path="images/10969438_796378030416108_1287229658_o.jpg"] Gulu Workshops - Photo credit: Denis Okello and our team in Uganda. [/img] [img path="images/10967610_796379823749262_1998732302_o.jpg"] Gulu Workshops - Photo credit: Denis Okello and our team in Uganda. [/img] [img path="images/10964665_796381547082423_1222004002_o.jpg"] Gulu Workshops - Photo credit: Denis Okello and our team in Uganda. [/img] [img path="images/10965657_796383453748899_711227497_n.jpg"] Gulu Workshops - Photo credit: Denis Okello and our team in Uganda. [/img][/slide]
