Peace Begins With Me

    Some expressions are only words.  Others speak volumes.  When we were developing the Rotary Relief Project Proposal, it was important to include not just items that one would normally think of. Food for the hungry and medicine for the sick came immediately and naturally to mind.  But the real issue that brought about the needs lay inside people.  There was hostility that was based on a "me first" mentality.  Such self interest, while it is natural; if exaggerated can create social and societal injustices and even genocide.  People felt cheated.  Some had stood in line for more than 8 hours just to vote.  Now there was a feeling that the democratic  process was a wasted exercise.  Such conclusions by the electorate in a democracy are the fuel of anarchy.  And Kenya was on the brinkof devolving into complete upheaval. Thus emerged a mentality of "my people, my land, me, me and more me!"

    So we decided in our relief committee that it was critical to bring a message of peace that addressed this primal urge of "me first politics!"   The phrase chosen was "Peace begins with me!"  It was further concluded that the message needed to be taken to those who lived in the midst of the worst of the "me first" violence.  In Kisumu, the most mobile population that moves in and around the slum areas are the boda-boda drivers (bicycle taxis).  There are an estimated 5000 in Kisumu alone.  This past Thursday we gave T-shirts carrying the "Peace begins with Me" message to the first group of 60 boda-boda drivers.  The message was printed on the back of the T-shirts in English and Kiswahili.  On the front were printed the Rotary logos along with all the donors who had assisted with the relief efforts.  Each week another 50-60 will be given T-shirts and a package of 2 kg of maize meal flour.  We told the drivers that we cared about their daily bread as well and not just the message we had asked them to carry.  The first group were very well organized and orderly and proudly displayed the T-shirts and promised to wear them.  We all felt good about the day as a number of Rotarians gathered for the handing over ceremony.  One cannot measure the effectiveness of preventative mediation of conflict.  If someone sees the shirt and takes a moment to consider the deep message of peace and its origins in society relative to one's own personal desires, we will feel the money was well spent. But for one day, there was at the least a healthy discussion between those who may only take home a few shillings for a days effort and those who are leading members of the business community in Kisumu.  That alone is healthy for peaceful coexistance.  As one of our past district governors frequently said, quoting an ancient Abuntu expression: "I am because we are!"

  God bless you,

Dan Schmelzer - Chairman Rotary Relief in Kisumu and Vihiga