Peace and Talent Festival
Peace
and Talent Festival is a platform for talented Kenyan youth and
children to develop their talents and to give the message of PEACE,
UNITY AND RECONCILIATION through ART. It is a call for their personal
development and a social consciousness for a healthier coexistence of
different communities in the Kenya while creating peace together. The Festival will be officiated by Hon Ababu Namwamba, Minister for Youths Affairs and Sports.“We are dedicated to put MUSIC above FIGHTING, DIALOGUE above JUDGEMENT, BREAD above BOMBS and CREATION above DESTRUCTION.” People can do it. Thats Master(Peace)
Festival Background
We are caring about the situation of youth of Kenya while bearing in mind that the ultimate purpose of human activity is to enrich peoples’ especially by enlarging people's’ options and choices.
According to the economic survey 2009, a total of 44,088 out of 88,414 prisoners were youths, aged 16 – 25 years. This statistics does not speak well of the Kenyan youth. They are many possible reasons that can lead young people into prisons or in other desperate situations; widespread poverty, unemployment, and poor government policies that neglect the empowerment of this vulnerable group are some of them.
Talent festival is a deliberate move by MasterPeace Kenya and Kencare Initiative to enlarge youth options and choices by giving them a forum for self realization and more especially to give a formative massage primarily to their fellow youth and to the society at large.MasterPeace Kenya and Kencare Initiative are collaborating to make this festival a success. And it is the MasterPeace Kenya which added the concepts of Peace, unity and reconciliations through the use of music, art and sports, right from the grassroots to the groundbreaking digital and artistic international collaboration.
Therefore peace and talent festival is the compounded by both MasterPeace and Kencare Initiative and it will be taking place in each year.
MASTERPEACE KENYA is a bottom up grassroots peace building initiative registered in Kenya. It is an integral part of MasterPeace Foundation community, a global innovative movement of artists, activists, journalists, cities, companies and members from civil society who believe that world peace is possible if enough people start to work for it and who are inspiring world leaders to really deliver on two extremely important goals: creating a world with less armed conflicts and no nuclear arms, creating a world in which opportunities are shared equally. We spread Peace through music, art and sports, from small community and reconciliation projects up to groundbreaking digital and artistic international collaboration. MasterPeace Kenya invites global and local business partners and media specialists to support our course not only to save on costs but also to actively involve many different qualities to pass peace message as MasterPeace Might become the best possible answer to fear and indifference in Kenya and the whole world. MasterPeace Kenya is led by the President, Isaac Waithaka.
KENCARE INITIATIVE is a youth’s development and empowerment organization. It is a nonprofit in nature aiming at building the capacity to talented young Kenyans. It helps them to discover their potential and the ability to play a greater role in the development of their community. They are also helped to recognize that they are the partners, assets and a prerequisite for sustainable development and for the peace and prosperity of Kenyan society. This discovery is very important and it has a unique contribution at present and for the future development. Kencare is set to contribute to the socio-economic empowerment of vulnerable youth and the well-being of children especially in marginalized rural and urban communities. This is done through advocacy, capacity building, and entrepreneurial training. It also put emphasis in the creation of more opportunities for the attainment of good livelihoods through different programs. Irene Wairimu Mwago, the Executive Director.
Venue and date
The Peace and Talent Festival will be held on 15 of December, 2012. The festival presentations will start at 8:00 am. Please all are requested to make an effort to be at the venue by the said mentioned time.
The venue is located at Don Bosco Utume, adjacent to the Karen hospital along Lang’ata Road in Karen, Nairobi Kenya. Gate entrance is free, no charges. Those using public transport from town can catch Matatu No. 111 to gong, but drop at Karen Shopping Center. You can also catch City Hoppa No 24 to Karen via Gong Road outside Florida 2000 (F2) next to Kencom Hse and drop at Karen Shopping Centre as well. At Karen Shopping center, catch nissans along Lang’ata Rd to drop you right at the gate of Don Bosco Utume, after Karen Hospital. You can as well catch a City Hoppa No. 24 at Ambassadeur Hotel, opposite Kencom to drop you at Bomas of Kenya (Nakumatt Galeria), catch nissan 24 to Karen to drop you at the Gate of Don Bosco Utume. You can also catch a Matatu to Rongai from the Railway Station Bus Terminus to drop you at Bomas of Kenya then connect to the venue as mentioned above.
Please Note:
- While at Bomas of Kenya or Karen Shopping center, persist that you are going to don Bosco Utume, adjacent (next) to Karen Hospital to save on time and to track the way without getting lost.
- Leave home early.The roads experience heavy traffic jams as there are major road rehabilitations and constructions going on.
- Its cheaper in the morning from town to the venue, so the earlier you move towards the venue, the cheaper it is.
Peace-building after post-election violence in Kenya
When violence broke out following disputed general elections 0f 2007 in
Kenya, most neighboring communities in Kenya were caught up the
conflicts. Much is shared by the communities, like markets, water
sources and schools and the population has always involved two or three
communities in a certain geographical area, of which groups supported
different candidates in the elections. X people were killed and many
women were raped. Many properties, including schools and businesses,
were burned down, cattle were stolen and farming came largely to a
standstill because people were afraid of being attacked if they went out
into the fields. However, most of the direct violence ceased but
continued mistrust and tension was self evident: blocades had been put
in place across roads preventing free movement of people among
villages, women had to get escorted by groups of youth for them to fetch
water and wood from previously shared common water points and at the
market, members from individual community kept separate selling points
dealing only with their own community members, while as small business
owners had to close their places if they operated in foreign land to
their own context.However, peace taken into a new look and rebuilt through a community led processes of dialogue which some peace agreements put in place supported. At a time when people felt confined by political forces beyond their control, some key community egocentric leaders wanted to find a way for the people to take their lives in their own hands. The National Accord (peace agreement) introduced a methodology called the 'Community Social Peace and Recovery' model to reconcile people.There are three parts to the methodology: dialogue process agreement of a 'social contract' which is a community level peace accord peace and recovery projects jointly designed and implemented by the communities to cement the accord.Ahead of the dialogue itself, a teams of 'peace agents' were involved with their resolution skills.
When considerations were in place through the violence terrible ordeal, the focus turned to truth and reconciliation, seeking to acknowledge what had been done. Again, this was slow, and at times things seemed to go backward with event mistrust among the commissioners entrusted with the task. Eventually , the evidences shows that almost all Kenyans communities participated in their own ways to cause violence; elders instructed the youth to defend their respective communities; women hosted combatants , killings, rape and smuggling were self evident.
Who was to be blamed? The Kenyan communities themselves were responsible for the violence and destruction in their communities because they had allowed politicians to manipulate them and incite them into fighting against each other. Today they continue to pay dearly for
their participation in the clashes while the politicians have since moved on to focus on filling the pockets projects. For many participants, the most important message they took home was “never again to be used as the politicians’ battle field.”
THE MAASAI NECKLACE – A SYMBOL OD PEACE
Naserian – A Story of a Brave Girl
A war was planned between two Maasai clusters and as is the norm, Warriors in groups prepared for the war over a period of time, eating meat in the bush as they strategized. The planning of the war went on with the overall commander, who is also the most fears warrior of all receiving briefs and updates from his colleagues and elders as well as holding secret meetings in a safe venue away from the area where the meat is eaten “Orpul”.
Girls also accompanied the warriors to the bush, not to prepare for war but just to eat meat and have a good time with their boyfriends away from home.
Women would however, know
plans of usual wars like cattle rustling because it was a different
community that would be attacked and people cared less. It would also
mean bravery and fierceness for the warriors which would earn them fame
within their community. This time, it was between the Maasai and other
Maasai hence the need to keep it secret. As the planning went ahead
Naserian, who is the commander’s girl friend became suspicious must
terribly be going wrong because her boyfriend’s behavior kept on
changing day in day out. Women are never informed or consulted over an
impending war because they are not required to take part in it.Because women were not allowed to ask questions about wars, Naserian decided to find out what was going on her own. She sneaked to the secret meetings venues, and from a safe distance she could follow the meeting’s proceedings.
After sometime, the Naserian had gathered all the necessary information about the war preparations including the day of the war which was fixed just after the full red moon which is synonymous with wars called “Olonyokie” Naserian was so disturbed with the war plans but could not figure out how to intervene given her position in the society. But after some thought, Naserian decided to consult with her mother over the issue. One day, Naserian pretended that she was homesick and that she wanted to go home to see her mother and siblings and she was allowed to go. At home, she discussed the war plans with her mother and asked for her intervention through her father as girls are not allowed to address their fathers directly. Her mother dismissed her, and with lots of frustrations, Naserian went back to the bush and shared her story with the other girls. Her peers also dismissed her warning her of dare consequences if she insisted on the matter. Naserian was even more disturbed and concerned because if the war went ahead,she knew her boyfriend would be the first to die due to his fierceness and bravery
After some deep thought, Naserian decided to technically discuss the issue directly with her boyfriend even with the knowledge that she was not supposed to. The boyfriend also brushed her aside and would not give any information to Naserian as per the customary law.
With the days of ‘Olonyokie” fast approaching, Naserian decided to tell her boyfriend what she has been doing including all the information of the planned war that she had gathered. That she was aware that it was her boyfriend who would die first and that she had resolved to accompany him to the war fields to die with him. She put this across to her boyfriend very firmly and clearly.
One day later, her boyfriend decided to tell Naserian all about the war and that much as he was willing to avoid the war for her sake, it was impossible because all plans were at an advanced stage and that it would be coward of him and unwise to backtrack at this late hour because the enemy side would still go on and wipe them out anyway.
Naserain told her boyfriend that she had a suggestion
which might help – That she will cross over to the enemy side and
befriend the fiercest warrior and commander of the other side and in
the process try to persuade him to stop the war. Naserian would carry a
necklace from her boyfriend as evidence to the other commander. The
discussions of trying to stop the war between Naserian and her
boyfriend were also made a top secret because her boy friend would be
killed if he was discovered to be working to stop the warAfter some thought and knowing too well that Naserian would travel a long distance to reach the enemy territory with the dangers of wild animals along the way, the commander called an elders meeting to put across his suggestions – That the days of the war are moving very slowly and they cannot wait any more, and in order for the war to start early, they needed to provoke their opponents. This of course, would mean more bravery and determination for this great warrior. He went on to narrate his plans “Let us move some of our cattle with a two warriors accompanied by one girl to the enemy grazing fields and that will provoke the war to start”.
Although the strategy was agreed by all, no father wanted his daughter to accompany the cattle for fear of being killed. After a long discussion, the warrior offered his girl friend {Naserian} and although her father objected to the idea, he insisted and insisted that Naserian would seize to be his girlfriend if she failed to accompany the cattle. Naserian’s father had to reluctantly give in as it would not be well for her daughter to loose this great warrior.
With her boyfriend’s
necklace, Naserian and the two warriors set out with the cattle. They
walked for days through bushes, savannah grass lands, up and down hills
towards the enemy side. Naserian told the warriors accompanying her
that when they get near the enemy side, she would go first and pose as a
lost girl in the enemy villages in order to survey the area while they
wait with the cattle until she returned. The journey however, took
longer than expected because they took a longer root and the cattle
could not walk that fast. On arrival to the enemy territory, she got
the news that the war did actually take place and from the descriptions
given, she could tell that her boyfriend was amongst the ones killed.
Naserian went back to where she left the cattle and asked the two
warriors to drive the cattle back because she was going to remain
behind.After a few days, the victorious warriors returned to a colorful reception by their people. Naserian joined the other girls in celebration as they welcomed the warriors back home. The celebration went on for sometime until the time came when girls were required to choose their new boyfriends through the cultural way of singing and dancing. Through out the celebrations, Naserian had identified and marked the commander, and when her chance came, Naserian joyfully went singing towards the commander and chose him as her boyfriend. The warrior was so attracted with Naserain’s beauty and they met later that evening.
Naserain introduced herself to her new boyfriend and
went ahead to narrate the whole story and gave him the necklace from
her previous boyfriend. The warrior was deeply touched by this brave
girl’s story and confirmed the death of the commander to Naserian.
After some time, the warrior convened an elders meting and through
Naserian, the other Maasai cluster agreed for a meeting with their
counterparts. In the meeting, the two communities agreed to forgive
each other, forge ahead and intermarry to cement their relationship.
Naserian was the first to be married by their community’s rivals and
later, other marriages followed. To date the two communities are so
friendly to each other and they live in harmony.Old men gave me this story when I was young but I have never given it a thought or taken it seriously. But when I read about a gift to a friend you have never met from the latest emails from Egypt, the story came back to my mind and I started thinking about it more seriously.
Personally, I have decided that this is going to be part of my vision for Master Peace – To make the necklace a symbol of peace and distribute to about one million people all over the world in five years. I am starting my distribution with you JILDAU today and I urge you to put it on your hand wherever and whenever and help spread the word of PEACE. I would also urge all other MasterPeacers, and indeed all other people who care, to make Peace necklaces and bangles with the word PEACE written boldly in English and local languages and distribute them wherever they go all over the world.
PEACE BE UPON THE WORLD.
Ezekiel Ole Katato
A smile is the beginning of PEACE
A smile is the beginning of peace. Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace. If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. What can you do to promote world peace?
If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful
and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most
basic kind of peace. MasterPeace gives a chance to share peace together and
contributing towards achieving love. If we are peaceful, if we are happy,
we can smile and blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire
society, will benefit from our peace." The essence of nonviolence is love.
Out of love and the willingness to act selflessly, strategies, tactics, and techniques
for a nonviolent struggle arise naturally. Nonviolence is not a dogma; it is a
process
“One day we must come
to see that peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but that it is a
means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through
peaceful means”
Dear MasterPeace!
Dear PeaceMy number one Piece
With lamp on my night stand i write tight and right
Armed with ink to fight for my right
I'm thinking of life
I'm wrong and write Peace!
Sometimes i'm right Beasts!
Sometimes i might just quit
Believe still my dreams are bright
So i continue my fight
But still i dream to see more than my site
i adore peace so i can't ignore
What i want anymore is peace so i just goYou can call me a goer
For peace must i go
Dear peace
By
Peter Ndung'u
Asst. Events/ Spokesman
MasterPeace
MasterPeace,Education and Social Development
Education is one the most
effective tools for enhancing peoples achievements, freedom and
capabilities. It is fundamental human right.
Today's
primary-age children who do not go to school are tomorrows young adult
illiterates, whose life prospects in employment,health and
decision-making are poor. This lack of opportunity affects youths all
level of education.
Despite going through all
these challenges, Young people should be integrated into all local and
national developments program's and frame works to explore their
potential..
By
Boniface Kilivwa
Vice President
MasterPeace Kenya
MasterPeace as a Global Peace tool
MasterPeace is an international
bottom-up peace initiative with the major goal to involve people in
peace building. We want to mobilize millions of people - amongst the
international civil society - to do work for the sake of peace in the
broadest sense, including (social) sustainability, the reduction of
(armed) conflicts (on both private and global levels) and international
collaboration.
MasterPeace
will develop several attractive peace building projects, global and
local, including a mesmerizing concert in Cairo on the International Day
of Peace in 2014, where artists from the worlds focus areas will
perform to encourage dialogue and promote togetherness. The concert will
be an exclusive reward for people who actively supported peace building
activities in the years before the International Day of Peace in 2014.
MasterPeace
might become the best possible answer to fear and indifference. We
already have committed our time, dedication, expertise, passion and
professionalism, but we can’t be successful without your involvement.
Join MasterPeace to ensure Global peace conducive
environment and an opportunity to realize potentials for the self
motivated young people through provision of a timely healthy service,
education and an opportunity to explore their talents thus bettering the
whole universe. We can do it!!! Let's do it!!!!!!
So join us in this ‘Just Do It’-campaign for peace! Prepared By
Boniface Kilivwa
Vice President/ Events manager
MasterPeace Kenya
Our Collaborative partners: World Peace Is Possible.
MasterPeace Kenya invites global and local business partners
and media specialists to support MasterPeace. Not only to save on costs but
also to actively involve many different qualities in the MasterPeace alliance
to pass peace message. Activists, artists, social entrepreneurs, NGOS, cities,
governments and companies need to work together more closely on social causes,
because we need each others skills and networks to create professional and
sustainable solutions to conflicts.
We were moved when Janny Smits on behalf of World Peace is Possible requested to be amongst our family of collaborative Partners. We both work for the same objectives and its was touching to realize we can work together.MasterPeace Kenya organized a collaborative partners day and the World Peace is Possible was our case study, thanks to their commendable efforts.
The World Peace is Possible.
World Peace is Possible is the name of a foundation which aims to bring
world peace closer all over the world. The underlying idea is that by
making the thought “World Peace is Possible” become known everywhere,
world peace actually does become more likely.The slogan ‘World Peace is Possible’ and promos aim to positively influence people’s thinking. Many people believe that world peace – a world without war – is impossible. In the last few decades however, contrary to all expectations, many things have become possible. It can be just the same with world peace! One condition is that throughout the world, more and more people become convinced that world peace is a possibility to be considered.
The name is also the slogan which the foundation wants to give the widest exposure.
The famous Dutch artist Dick Bruna has designed a logo especially for this purpose, in which the peace dove forms the heart of the slogan.
The Press release of single/clip (20-10-2010)
PRESS RELEASE
Single
‘We are One, World Peace Is Possible’
composed by Ton Scherpenzeel
The Netherlands, Bilthoven, October/November, 2010
On October 20, 2010 World Peace Is Possible released a single and a video.
The following renowned musicians are involved in the single:
Ton Scherpenzeel, piano (Kayak)
Cindy Oudshoorn, vocals (Kayak)
Geoffy G., rapper
Hans Eijkenaar, drummer (amongst others Candy Dulfer, Anouk, Rene Froger)
Jan Hoving, vocals (Bagheera, Stonefly)
George Konings, guitar, bass, Hammond, backing vocals (Het Goede Doel, Kadanz, the Leads)
Peter de Wint, vocals (Mystery, Affair, Qin)
The CD single "We Are One, World Peace Is Possible" was recorded by George Konings at the Sound Vision Studio in Arnhem, and represented by Music PR Agency Saskia Konings. The production of the clip is from Ron and Marike Vink of Floyd Creative. The famous comedian and columnist Youp van ‘t Hek is appearing in the clip.
Would you like to upload a picture (smaller than 1MB) in our digital monument?
Please do not fill in 'woonplaats' = town (small error) thanx!
www.thepeaceconnection.org
WPIP FLYER UK.jpg
Almost all of pictures can be found here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/117704038408755743008?gsessionid=pInr9O1f91QabJwI83kR1g
We are so much grateful to Janny for her efforts and will to collaborate with us.Yes! We are One!
Below is a link containing our photos in our collaborative partners mood.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2495092809583.2118134.1020717024&type=3
By Isaac Waithaka
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