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IPF Local Partner: Amani Communities Africa
IPF Project: Basic Non Violence Training for University Students
Delivery Dates: 13th-15th February 2009
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Peacemakers: Joy K. Mbaabu - Executive Director
Kenya's violently disputed 2007 election left over 1000 people dead, many more seriously injured and over 350,000 displaced. Eighteen months on, many continue to live in makeshift camps or with overburdened relatives in fear that if they return home they will not survive.
The post election violence, caused by disputed General Election results, was built on longer term societal and economic problems related to high youth unemployment, unequal land distribution, a powerful, untouchable political elite and a country with a large number of strong and diverse ethnic affiliations. The violence was a catastrophic tragedy for Kenya, psychologically, socially and economically.
The crisis put the economy in meltdown with Kikuyu farmers in the Rift Valley abandoning their farms, businesses razed to the ground, job losses and money diverted from savings into basic needs survival.
Compounded by international economic crises and linked to changes in food production, speculation on oil prices and a financial crisis in Western Countries, Kenya is in a fragile and dangerous situation at present.
2009 started with a chronic food shortage, caused by a mixture of
the
post election violence, lack of rains, corruption at the highest levels
and maize prices increasing once more. The current political situation
is also unstable with Prime Minister Raila Odinga announcing in April a
boycott of cabinet meetings in response to a dispute with President
Mwai Kibaki over the control of the committee that sets the
parliament's legislative agenda.
Amani Communities Africa (ACA) (Formerly FAMEC) has existed as a registered Kenyan non-governmental organization since 2001, changing its name from Family Mediation and Conciliation (FAMEC) last year.
ACA's broad objective is to build the capacity of local communities in the areas of human rights, access to justice, women‘s empowerment, conflict resolution, non violence and leadership. The offices are based in Nairobi, Kenya and employ a full time staff of 10 plus eight consultants. Joy K. Mbaabu founded ACA (as FAMEC) in 2001and is the current Executive Director. She trained as a lawyer and practiced law in the Kenyan courts before moving on to human rights and peace education and advocacy.
ACA's work covers training and education, documentation and dissemination, exchange and sharing best practices, alliance building and networking, mentorship, resource mobilization, lobbying and advocacy.
The work of ACA focuses on local communities, women's groups and
women
leaders, schools, colleges and youth work, religious institutions and
business organizations. Courses run by ACA cover conflict resolution,
mediation skills, leadership, community capacity building, trauma and
counseling skills, gender and peace building and civic education.
The grant from IPF enabled ACA to:
Young people are easily caught up in the tribal violence that is manipulated by some politicians and leaders. Amongst them there is very little knowledge of non violent strategies to achieve change or the skills needed to take the violence out of a conflict situation. In the aftermath of the 2007 post election violence and continuing political instability, in which violent demonstrations on university campuses have occurred there is obvious value to this work.
The objectives of the training were to ground the participants in the philosophy, history, principles and practice of non violence as a tool for social change; to give them some tools and skills in using non violence, to help them indentify resources and build a sense of community and to prepare an action plan for an up coming situation - such as how to respond to a demonstration moving towards violence, and also to be able to share their knowledge and skills with others.
'I am inspired by Martin Luther and Mahatma Gandhi's works, all it takes is strategy, courage and selflessness. ' - Carol Mithi, participant.
'Amani Communities Africa, Thank you! You have ignited a spark
in
me, instilled a skill in me and I am charged and ready to act in a
nonviolent way. I want to lead by example'. - Felix Kimathi,
participant.
Joy initially trained as a lawyer, and practiced law in the Kenyan courts, before moving on to human rights, peace education and advocacy. She has a strong appreciation for diversity, interdependence, and empowerment as pillars for peaceful co-existence. Joy is the founding director of Amani Communities Africa (ACA) - a non governmental organization that builds capacities of local communities in the areas of human rights, access to justice, women ‘s empowerment, conflict resolution, nonviolence and leadership. She is an experienced team leader and mentor, and currently leads a team of 10 staff and 8 consultants to conceptualize, fundraise, implement, document, research, evaluate and report on ACA projects. She is an accomplished nonviolence trainer, facilitator, and social activist contributing to the global agenda of peace, justice and equality.
Related Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya
Copyright © 2012, The Fellowship of Reconciliation, England || +44 (0)1865 250781 || Charity No. 207822 ||
Originating URL: http://www.for.org.uk/givesupport/kenya.shtml
Copyright © 2012, The Fellowship of Reconciliation, England || +44 (0)1865 250781 || Charity No. 207822 ||
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