By Srs. Sylvia Atim and Mary Lilly Driciru, MSMMC

Religious Sisters Communicators’ Foundation (RSCF)Uganda

Fourteen religious sisters from Gulu Ecclesiastical Province, hailing from various congregations assembled at the Association of Religious in Uganda (ARU) secretariat, for a five-day training. The theme of the training was Active Nonviolence and Peacebuilding, and the topics included; conflict management and resolution, trauma healing, Gospel nonviolence and transformational leadership. According to the Program Coordinator, Dieudonne Serukobuza, “this program will roleout to other parts of Uganda, but we chose to start with Gulu Ecclesiastical Province because of the 20 –years’ internal conflict and war of the infamous rebel leader, Joseph Kony. This first group of trainees will determine the success of the program in Uganda,” he concluded.

The training, organized by Pax Christi International, aims to enhance the sisters' capacity for conflict resolution, trauma healing, transformational leadership and peacebuilding in the contemporary society. It also aims to improve the youth capacity for social resilience and civic participation in order to positively influence Active Nonviolence and Peacebuilding.

The Coordinator, Uganda, Sr. Immaculate Tusigwire noted that, “the program was planned for 15 sisters from the region: four from Gulu Archdiocese, three from Nebbi Catholic Diocese, four from Arua Diocese and four from Lira Diocese (GANAL). However, one participant from Nebbi did not report and therefore reducing the number to fourteen. The sisters are empowered to reach out to educational institutions, youth groups, church institutions and other community groups.

During the official opening, ARU Secretary General, Sr. Lydia Bwor welcomed the participants and urged them to become peacebuilders in their ministries and communities. Sr. Dr. Wamuyu Wachira Teresia, Co-President of Pax Christi International, emphasized the need for new approaches to conflict resolution, trauma healing, and peacebuilding. She also cautioned sisters to do self-care as they reach out to do various ministries. Sr. Teresia called upon sisters to honor one another as each one is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

The training features interactive sessions, including role-playing, analogies, and problem-solving activities, facilitated by experts such as Dieudonne Serukobuza, Pax Christi's Africa Regional Coordinator, Martha Okumu, Director of Peace Tree Network, and Divina Gekonge, a Lecturer of Peace and Conflict Studies at St. Paul's University in Nairobi, Kenya.

Sr. Doreen Oyella appreciated the organizers and facilitators of the timely workshop. “We appreciate everything about this training and your simplicity in interacting with us and your way of packaging the messages were great. We take the challenge of addressing peace needs in our society. I also challenge all of us to look through our ‘small windows’ and take note of what you see in the society. How will you address it?

Pax Christi is traced way back to 1945, after the world war II. This tool was designed to reconcile France and Germany after the world war. It slowly rolled out into 60 countries with 16 African countries. They are propelled by the slogan: Active nonviolence is my life, my spirit, my strength and the strength of my soul.