GLOBAL NETWORK CIRCLE STORY

Members of Women Building Bridges for Peace held a picture of St. Tereza's Women's Circle when they were honored at the 2007 New Voices @ The Table Gala.

Our group, St. Tereza's Women Circle, started in November 2004. The name was chosen in recognition of Mother Teresa, an Indian nun who used to look after the poor. We, a group of African mothers in Uganda, came together to help and support one another. Our main goal: to ensure that our children and grandchildren were educated to break the poverty cycle so common in our town of Mubende. Looking at our talents, we discovered that making crafts like baskets, woven rugs, and pottery, in addition to our small jobs, could contribute towards the school fees of our family members.

Selling our wares was not an easy task to undertake. We had no formal place of business and initially went door to door looking for a market. Then, the son of a group member, Consolate, was introduced to Peace X Peace. He shared the mission of the organization with his mother who requested he register our group through his email account. In a period of a month, we were connected to our lovely sisters, the Women Building Bridges for Peace in Mt. Shasta, California, USA.

Through our connection, we have learned how to communicate using Circle principles. Not only have we had the opportunity to share deeply with a group of women in another country, we've also become more informed on what is happening in the world and in other parts of Uganda. Our participation in the Peace X Peace Global Network as well as our group's viewing of the documentary Women on the Frontlines has taught us that no matter what part of the world we are coming from, women are on the frontlines for PEACE.

With the help of our Sister Circle, our once door to door business has evolved into a wooden kiosk to sell our wares. Our children, the St. Agnes Happy Hour Group, along with our Sister Circle's children and the larger Strawberry Valley 4-H Club, have joined the global movement and are learning about one another through their pen pal relationships and an educational website our connection has created.

It would be wrong for us to say that a dream has come true. This was not even in our dreams! Perhaps it would be more appropriate to call what has happened to St. Theresa's Women's Circle a miracle. Ladies in the world who love peace, thank you for taking a minute to read out story. We hope it blesses you and shows you what we have learned: No matter the color, tribe, language, country, or region, PEACE is our universal language.

The St. Tereza's Women's Circle & Women Building Bridges for Peace connection was honored with the 2007 Voices for Peace Connector Award. Visit the St. Agnes Happy Hour Group and the Strawberry 4-H Club's website at Strawberry Valley 4-H Global Education Project. To create your own miracle, register, connect, and become a part of the Peace X Peace global movement.