Choose Self-worth not Self-harm - Creators of Peace in Cape Town
Creators of Peace (CoP) hosted a group from Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and nearby locations, from the 9th - 11th February, to embark on a journey of inner healing
The fourteen participants are unemployed single parents, ex-convicts and substance abuse recoverers, mainly from the Eastern Cape originally, looking for greener pastures in Cape Town. Psychosocial challenges of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety and anger in the group derive from broken families, lack of family support and absentee fathers.
The group of nine women and five men between the ages of 22 and 50yrs gathered together ready to share their hardship and past wounds, because they yearn for peace and hope. The first day started very well with some participants engaging and eager to share their stories while a few were reserved, especially the men - saying that they are still wanting to learn more instead of speak more.
Other expectations were, in particular, the need to gain trust, forgiveness, learn a strategy on how to deal with past wounds and learn communication skills.
After day one's activities and space for sharing on the theme, ‘what builds and destroys peace?’’ Portia, one of the participants said, “Thank you CoP for bringing this kind of workshop. It is my first time to feel like I belong somewhere. I have a broken relationship with my mother. I have never felt like I have had solutions for my challenges until now.”
After a time of practising quiet and inner listening, Ntombi expressed, “Thank you guys for such a programme. We really need it because we all have things we have gone through, and have had no space to share them or look at them again from a healing eye.” Babalwa commented, “Being in this space with males made me aware of how they are longing to have father figures in their lives. I am raising boys - I will go and implement what I learnt here. I will sit with my family and tell my boys how much I love them and no matter what they face out there they must know that their parent loves them.”
There were four recommended referrals made on issues of forgiveness, anger and gender Based Violence (GBV).
The excitement and joy to be part of the inner healing process/workshop was written all over their faces as the participants showed up every morning, including the five men who were determined to 'be the change' and implement change after the Peace Circle.
The participants agreed to have follow-up sessions in the first week of March, aiming to build a strong support structure, towards set goals being met.
Thank you to all donors and support the works gets to heal and impact people.
-Report by Nompendulo Mathe and Nomonde Qondiso