I am Mama Peace
“When I was displaced from my home country, South Sudan, I was traumatized due to the war, and whatever was in my mind was conflict,” Maka Joyce, the secretary for women affairs in Bidibidi settlement Zone 2 Village 1, reveals.
However, this didn’t last long as her transformation came as a result of the training on gender transformative leadership, peacebuilding, psycho-social support, and mentorship sessions organized by I Can South Sudan with support from Oxfam.
“The trainings opened my eyes and I realized that I needed to change my ways and become a peaceful person because there are more benefits in peace than conflicts”
Together with other women, they formed a group called the Wake Up Women group, involving refugees and host communities. The group was also given 10 acres of land by the Host LC1 Chairman of Moyo road due to a good, peaceful relationship with the host community.
The land was to facilitate them to carry out cultivation and developmental projects to support them as a group.
"I was inspired by Joyce to embrace peace and move away from conflict when I witnessed her transformation from someone who liked conflict to a person who actively promotes peace. Her behaviour changed significantly; she let go of her old habits and became a genuinely good person. " attests Annet Ayike a fellow member of the women-led fora.
Emulating a good example in the community earned Joyce nicknames like “Mama Peace” and “young queen.” Joyce further says that she is active in the community and speaks to women, and encourages them to be responsible and productive in their day-to-day activities.
“Through the peace and mediation training, we have been empowered to live in peace with the host brothers and sisters. We now only tell success stories with our host brothers and sisters. I am now called Mama Peace because of the transformation I underwent.”