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Shalom Centre for Counselling and Development (SCCoDev), is a registered NGO in Kenya that is creating and holding trusted and transformative spaces for healing and reconciliation, and promotion of sustainable livelihoods in affected communities. SCCoDev was founded in early 1990s by women who while serving Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of 1991/1992 violent conflicts saw the need to support women IDPs deal with their traumatic experiences.
The founding members who were mainly humanitarian workers also facilitated community dialogues among conflicting communities mainly from Bungoma and Trans Nzoia Counties.
SCCoDev founding member Dr. Tecla Namachanja visiting IDPs in Mt. Elgon in 1992.
From 2006-2008, Mt. Elgon Region experienced violent conflicts over land settlement that drew in a militia group and a military operation. This particular violence was very traumatizing to both community members of the Soy and Ndorobo.
SCCoDev founding members were among the care givers who went to Mt. Elgon region in 2008 with a mission of creating awareness about the traumatic impact of violence to communities. They had prepared flip charts for workshop facilitation. But when they entered the room with 30 women who were emotionally charged, they put away the flipcharts and held the space for women to offload their pain. They had 3 days of mourning and grieving with women from the Soy community and another 3 days of mourning with women from the Ndorobo community.
These two communities were the ones involved in the violent conflicts.
Dr. Namachanja holding a safe and trusted space for women from the Soy Community at Cheptonon Church in 2008.
In September 2020, a call was made to SCCoDev by one of the women from Mt. Elgon who participated in the 2008 healing process. She said that the pain was too much and some women were giving up and actually the rate of suicidal cases had increased. The fear was also too much regarding the coming general elections scheduled for 2022. Some women had observed early warning signs. The youth were referring to 2022 with threatening sentences such as “wait until 2022 reaches, they will see!” The women took these threats seriously because the region occasionally experiences sporadic violence as a result of revenge attacks. In fact, it was alleged that the last violent conflicts that took place in 2018 were revenge attacks.
So, SCCoDev went back to Mt. Elgon to embark on a journey of supporting communities heal from their traumatic past knowing how much people were wounded and being aware of the fact that it was going to be a long process.
To cultivate resilient communities for peace, justice and strong institutions
To foster sustainable peace by promoting transitional justice, reconciliation, community dialogue and by nurturing social healing circles
Kenyans suffer from all forms of trauma: ongoing, structurally induced, societal or collective, historical, secondary and participation induced. This affects the well being of the person and well-functioning of the society. IF trusted spaces are created among the affected for healing and dialogue THEN these communities will be able to co-exist peacefully and function well. This is BECAUSE through trusted spaces they will be able to support each other in the healing of their inner wounds and resolve conflicts productively.
Focus Area 1: Create, hold and transform safe and trusted spaces for healing
In this program five-day healing circles will held among the affected. Safe and trusted spaces will be created for them to support each other in their healing.
This program aims to support the wellbeing of caregivers who can be at risk to get vicarious trauma due to the nature of their work.
Focus Area 2: Support community dialogues for peaceful co-existence
The objective of this program is to create and hold trusted spaces for community dialogues through dialogue peace circles.
Focus Area 3: Promote sustainable livelihoods in affected communities
This program aims at supporting communities to identify and harness local resources and capacities for sustainable livelihoods.
Focus Area 4: Develop digital trusted spaces for healing
The objective of this program is to hold virtual digital healing circles for affected persons
Focus Area 5: Documentation and Research
The purpose of documentation and research is to have a knowledge bank in community social healing and reconciliation, and related thematic areas.
In our African traditions, the circle was greatly valued and respected. It demonstrated oneness, togetherness and a sense of belonging. It was considered as a trusted space of sharing experiences, making decisions and empowering each other.
Our strategic approach is centered on the transforming power of the traditional circle in 3 interconnected circles: the healing circle, the dialogue circle and the livelihood circle. In the healing circle we create and hold a trusted space where the affected support each other to heal. In the dialogue circle, community members discuss and come to consensus on the best way to live peacefully together.
Where conflicts arise, they are able to resolve them soberly, impartially and productively to the satisfaction of all affected parties. In the livelihood circle, community members look into together sustainable means of sustenance while ensuring no one is left behind. Conflict transformation is achieved where the three converge.
We are making a difference
© 2021 – SCCoDev