Sowing Seeds of Peace
One fateful day, Annet Ayike’s three children from the refugee settlement ventured out to gather mangoes and never returned. Panic swept through the settlement and the refugees started blaming the host community for their children’s disappearance.
“It was a tag of war.” Annet, a member of the Women of Hope group, recounts. “By then, I didn’t know about resolving issues peacefully; I always resorted to conflict.
However, the host community had no clue about the disappearance of the children, which the refugees refuted.
“We fought each other until our local leaders intervened.” She narrates.
Fortunately, the children were found, and the refugee community eventually confirmed that the host community was innocent.
Much as this incident was tense, it opened doors for a good relationship between the hosts and refugees. Oxfam partner, I Can South Sudan and the local leaders engaged them in the dialogue, and the refugees apologized to the host community.
““We promised never to point at them again, in case of anything wrong. We are now living happily.””
This was a turning point in Annet’s life. She recognized the need to shift from a conflict-driven mindset to one focused on peace. Through participating in dialogues and training on peaceful co-existence, she found clarity and embraced a harmonious life alongside the host communities.
Annet credits Joyce Maka as a key source of inspiration; after the training, Joyce took the time to engage her. This connection led Annet to join Joyce’s group, which actively advocates for peace in their community, igniting her commitment to advocate for peaceful co-existence.
A proud member of the choir that sings the song of peaceful coexistence, Annet has taken on the role of a peace champion in her community. Alongside her group, she travels from neighbourhood to neighbourhood, filling the air with uplifting melodies that promote understanding and collaboration.
Through their songs, they sensitise community members about the importance of nurturing peace and building strong ties with the host community, thereby creating an environment where everyone can thrive together.