Over the last few weeks Creators of Peace Circles have been formed all over Australia...

 

 

 

 

 

In South Australia...

                Over the last seven weeks, following eight information sessions around the state, four Creators of Peace Circles were formed in Tailem Bend, the Barossa Valley, Eden Hills and Adelaide.

                The groups totalled around forty women. Teachers, nurses, lawyers, farmers and businesswomen were just some of the professions represented. The cultural diversity amongst the groups was also rich, with old and new Australians coming together.

                As part of the Gathering Point around the theme of forgiveness, the women are invited to write a letter. One woman shared how, as she began to write to someone that she had ongoing conflict with, she realised for the first time that she was not only the victim in the situation, but also part of the problem. Another expressed her gratitude for the space to reflect on things that she had pushed aside for years. Another said that she had not laughed like this in all the years she had been in Australia!

                Next there will be an opportunity for all the women from the four groups to come together over a shared lunch. We  will reflect on what the Peace Circles have meant to us and exchange ideas for future Peace Circles, facilitation training and the possibility of Peace Circle exchanges.

– Bek Brown

 

In Canberra...

                Eight of us met over six weeks. Undeterred by frosty nights and busy schedules, it became – as many expressed –  the highlight of the week. The two facilitators came from Christian and Muslim backgrounds. Somali, Kenyan, Indian, Anglo and Lebanese backgrounds were represented. There is much enthusiasm to go on exploring and developing what has been started.

– Rosemary Thwaites

 

In Sydney...

                On 5 May, Jane Mills, with a cameo appearance by Rosemary Kariuki, ran a Creators of Peace workshop for 40 women at their annual Parramatta Catholic Women's League get together.  

                Joyce Fraser is heading up a new Marrickville CoP circle in teamwork with Marrickville Connect, a community program in Marrickville West Primary School with an outreach to many cultures.  A Sierre Leone high school student who came to last year's CoP conference, has encouraged her cousins and friends to come and take part.

                On Sunday 16 May, five women from the four corners of Sydney joined in a facilitation training to deliver CoP circles, run by Prasanthi Hagare and Trish McDonald Harrison.  This will enable a number of new CoP circles to begin. A facilitators' get together is planned in July.

– Jane Mills