Karambu Ringera

Karambu Ringera

Kenya

This is to invite you to the 2009 Women’s International Grassroots Peace organized by International Peace Initiatives (IPI) as a participant and/or workshop facilitator. IPI is hosting our 2nd Women’s International Grassroots Peace Congress in Meru, Kenya, August 20-23rd, 2009, at the Kenya Methodist University. Please plan on getting to the venue on August 19th afternoon. Pick-ups from Nairobi will be arranged.

We held our first Congress in 2005 and hosted 230 women from 14 African countries, with 5 other nations represented. Perhaps the most touching aspect of the Congress was how honored the rural women were by the outreach and support from women all over the world. Their village work was recognized and highly regarded and it was encouraging, even life-changing, for many of them. We understand this kind of respect shown to the grassroots women as a critical aspect of sustainability for development, poverty eradication, peace, and health for the  women of the world.

The theme of the 2009 Congress is “Women, Peace and Community: Weaving Partnerships that Promote Grassroots Initiatives for Sustainable Development and Cultures of Peace.”  This will be a multi-cultural, international forum aimed at crafting new and informed strategies that address the serious challenges of women in developing nations. The Congress will focus on Peace, Health and Prosperity. We will provide conflict resolution and peacebuilding training, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention training, and economic sustainability workshops.

As you are aware, a high percentage of the new HIV/AIDS cases happen in the villages to women and children, who are also the majority of victims in armed conflict, and usually constitute the poorest of the poor.  We understand, as many in development work now do, the need to build stable communities from the “bottom up,” especially in many African countries, as corrupt governments steal “top down” aid for personal profit and make it unavailable to those it was sent to serve.  As grassroots communities are educated and sustained, even governments are changed by this internal strength and vision.

We are pleased that Naomi Tutu, the daughter of Desmond Tutu and the founder of the Tutu Foundation for Development and Relief in Southern Africa, is scheduled as our keynote speaker. If you know potential presenters, especially from the village communities, please have them submit their ideas, and feel free to contact me with any questions.

Asante Sana (Thank you very much),
Dr. Karambu Ringera Congress Convenor
Founder and Executive Director
International Peace Initiatives – Kenya
P.O. Box 2596, Meru 60200 . KENYA
Tel: (011) 254 713 937 227 (from U.S.) or 0713 937 227 (from Kenya)
Email: info@ipeacei.org       karambu@ipeacei.org      ringerambu@yahoo.com