Building on an idea from Creators of Peace, a women’s network originating in Africa, and under the umbrella of Initiatives of Change, a number of Women’s Peace Circles have taken place in Australia – first in Adelaide, then in Melbourne, and last year and this year in Sydney. The objective is to create a space for women of different cultural backgrounds and faiths, so that we can explore together our own peace creating ability, to enable us to generate peace in our homes and the wider community. The guiding principles are:

• Every person has a part to play and something to contribute
• Every person can start the process of transformation in their own life
• Every person has a story to tell and a need to be heard
• Every person can be a compassionate listener to the Truth within, to the truths of others, to the needs of the wider community.

A group of 6-12 women meet for an agreed number of sessions. We work through a series of topics and exercises about peacemaking, and share something of our own personal stories in an atmosphere of trust and respect. In Sydney in September, we started with an introductory occasion in a community centre. This drew sixteen women, and out of it grew two peace circles, one on a Friday evening, the other on a Saturday morning. The material allows for eight sessions, but due to the lateness in the year, both groups opted for a series of four sessions. Both groups also asked for an extra session, so that they could view the video For the Love of Tomorrow about the French peacemaker Irene Laure. Participants came from Lebanon, Kenya, Iraq, Rwanda, Burundi and Australia (including Torres Straits). Comments from those taking part include:

• Listening to what others have experienced and suffered changes our thinking. Maybe we can change things.
• I can’t be a prisoner of my past. I choose to forgive.
• You can’t make peace between right and wrong. You need to educate yourself on the issues.
• Islam is not terrorist. I worry about my children’s generation.
• I’ve held anger and disappointment inside me for many years. I am confronting this and starting the healing process.
• If you have suffered, you can help others and stand beside them.
• Offering hospitality is a way of building peace.

Stories about these peace circles have been sent to a number of local papers and there is great interest to create more in the coming year.

Joyce Fraser, Barbara Lawler, Trish Harrison and Jane Mills