The first Creators of Peace Circle in South Sudan ran in Juba over three days in March. The very interactive, wide ranging conversation and the very deep and painful sharing gave lie to those who said the women of South Sudan would find it hard to open up, too traumatised to share.

On Saturday, March 23, updates were made to the Journey of Healing for National Reconciliation in South Sudan, including the rescheduling of the launch event.

‘A Second Liberation Struggle’ – Second Lady of the Republic of South Sudan, Madame Angelina Teny, urges women to engage and tell a new story on International Womens’ Day.

The challenge is clear; Initiatives of Change has been commissioned by the Vice President of South Sudan to train 200 South Sudanese Peace and Reconciliation Mobilizers. It is truly an exciting opportunity to bring together participants from across the 10 states of South Sudan to work together on this Journey of Healing for National Reconciliation.

Curtains closed at the Third Eastern Africa Youth Forum (EAYF) on Saturday 23 February 2013 with a rallying call for the youth to be ambassadors of morality! The five day conference shared great success lessons from Rwanda sparking hope among the young people who attended it. The forum brought together over 90 youths from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan as well as friends of goodwill from South Africa, Congo, Australia and Germany. The forum opened on Tuesday 19 February and ran for five days. The theme for the forum was ‘Moral Values: The Key to a Brighter Future.’

It is action time! These were the words uttered by the Kithoka community women in Meru during the recently held three day Creators of Peace workshop.

In the beginning of January, Initiatives of Change (IofC) Kenya officially launched Clean Elections Campaign as political storms took centre stage across the country. With the elections taking place on 4 March, many people’s focus is to ensure that the general elections are held free and fair and that by every means possible to advocate for violence-free elections.

A one day journey into Jonglei State last Sunday indicated what a daunting challenge reconciliation in South Sudan will be. Nyok Gor and Mike Brown from Australia were invited to join the Vice President, Dr Riek Machar Teny, and others including the Minister of Justice and senior figures from the area, to make a flying visit to a hotspot of conflict where 108 died on 8 February.

The first four from the international team for the South Sudan Journey of Healing for National Reconciliation have now safely arrived in South Sudan. Kathyrn Gor has sent this update.