Background

Creators of Peace (CoP) is an international network of women committed to the pursuit of a radical peace where personal honest and integrity form the basis of reconciliation.

It specifically challenges women to discover their unique potential in creating a culture of peace in their homes and communities. Launched in 1991 at the Initiatives of Change centre in Caux, Switzerland, CoP now operates in globally through conferences, workshops, personal encounters, community building activities and Creators of Peace Circles. 

Creators of Peace has been operating in Kenya since 2007 through workshops. The workshops have been bringing together women from different ethnicity, religion, social and economical backgrounds.

Aims

• To engage women in their role as creators of peace at every level of society
• To promote a change of heart, starting with oneself, as a primary tool of peace creation
• To pre-empt violence and despair by addressing the roots of conflict in and around us
• To encourage and connect existing ’peace builders’
• To raise awareness of the moral and spiritual pre-requisites for effective social action
• To build just, caring and inclusive communities for all

 How

‘None of us lacks the vision for peace, what we often lack is the first step in action’ says Yukika Sohma, Pioneer of a Japanese initiative to care for refugees. 

Creators of Peace action includes:

• Providing a transformative space for interpersonal, inter-ethnic and inter-religious dialogues based on the sharing of personal experience and information in a variety of forums, around conference tables, boardroom tables and kitchen tables.
• Promotion of Creators of Peace Circles.
• Workshops that increase the peace building skills of women in civil society. These include addressing the personal, moral and spiritual values needed for ethical leadership and sustainable action.
• The practice of deep reflection and inner listening to the voice of truth, or God, as a source of inspiration.
• Locally based initiatives that bring people together in community building activities.

Creators of Peace Circles

Creators of Peace Circles are small community gatherings of women who together work through material designed to deepen their friendships and understanding of their peace creating capabilities. One aim of these Peace Circles is to identify issues in the community with a potential for conflict and then resolve to take common action. 

Peace Circles are available worldwide– from Sydney to Sudan, Sweden to South Africa. If you would like to participate in a Peace Circle or find out more, please contact

Joanne Nabbanja in Uganda

Visit the Creators of Peace website

Exploring the role of women in peace creation
Thirteen women took part in a weekend Creators of Peace workshop at the Seeta Forest Hotel in the outskirts of Kampala city, Uganda in June 2010. They were asked to consider 'Are we peace makers or war makers?'