Inspired to live the Change -Creators of Peace Circles in Bertrams, Johannesburg
The Creators of Peace team delivered a Peace Circle to a group of sixteen young women from the 6th to 8th June 2018, at the City and Johannesburg Agricultural Skills Centre in Bertrams, Johannesburg.
The community of Bertrams is facing daily challenges such as human trafficking, killings, women abuse, rape, substance abuse, insecurities, financial struggles and a high crime rate. Due to all these challenges that the participants are facing daily, longing to have family reunion, permanent employment, having a peaceful lifestyle, is almost impossible for them to experience.
Having the opportunity for introspection when introduced to a reflective lifestyle, the group indicated awareness that they have not loved themselves enough and have dwelt in the past pains and hurtful experiences for too long. Therefore a common outcome was to be gentle on themselves by spending more time in quiet in search for new directions in their life and self-appreciation. Kedibone, a participant shared that “my dream has always been to become an actress but my parents are unemployed and didn’t have funds to help me further my studies. I had to leave my home in Limpopo province and come to Johannesburg to raise funds and further my studies but life got tougher and it killed my self-esteem. Today, after these three days I still feel I can strive for my dreams of becoming an actress and forgive myself for all that I blamed myself for.”
The last day was an extraordinary day. Women who had started out very timid and scared, felt comfortable to laugh, cry and be of motivation to each other. “I feel like a brand new person. I had given up on life and just took on every blow of pain as a must in my life. Last night, for the first time after a long time I had a mini conversation with God because this Peace Circle has helped me become aware and connect with the true me in a loving way. I had lost my value as a woman and now I am ready to face the world again,” expressed Ingrid.
“On the 8th of June, I celebrated my birthday with love and extra appreciation. The group sang, wished and gave me lots of blessing. I felt like God was using them as a vessel of his message that He is with me always, especially when a participant said to me, ‘Thank you for allowing God to save us through you.’ These words warmed my heart and made me hold on to the calling and purpose I am meant to serve on earth,” exclaimed Cleo one of the co-facilitators.
The outcomes of the group was on a personal level, for example, forgive the perpetrators and move on, register to complete their secondary education (grade twelve), renew life goals to become motivational speakers, loving parents, and leave their abusive relationships. A support group to care and continue fellowship was formed.
Creators of Peace left a spark in the lives of the young women in Bertrams. Gratitude goes to Initiatives of Change, Aulicious food and décor and City of Johannesburg.
Reported by:
Lucel Snyers and Cleo Mohlaodi