Creators of peace.

After the colour, hustle and bustle of Mumbai, India, the tranquil setting of the Asia Plateau MRA conference centre, 260km south-east in the Deccan hills, was appropriate for a workshop on `Everyone a peacemaker'.

It was organized by Creators of Peace, a women's initiative which invites people of every background, race and position to embrace their own peacemaking potential. It encourages individuals to `start creating peace where you are--in your heart, your home, workplace and community'.

Fifty-five women and men from 19 countries took part in the workshop last January to renew their commitment to `creating peace--one heart at a time'. Outside the conference sessions, participants had the opportunity to meet women and children from the local villages, to do volunteer cleaning and weeding at a local hospital and to visit a hospice for aids patients and a metal-casting factory. Each day started with the `mindful' practice of yoga before dawn.

For us as Canadians, it was humbling to listen to the stories of those from the Great Lakes area of Africa, the Middle East and north eastern India. Those from the Democratic Republic of Congo heard of the death of their president while they were in India and were fearful of what violence might ensue. A Rwandan woman, who did not know the fate of her husband who had ventured into Congo some years before, spoke of her decision to put aside her suffering and to work towards peace. When asked how she could work with those who had caused her pain, she replied that she saw in them the face of God, not of an enemy.

Participants from the Middle East described how they had helped one another when there was great pressure from opposing parties to keep the conflict going. A group of women had set up a suicide helpline to serve Israeli citizens, which had also helped distraught Palestinians.

One important theme that emerged was the desire of indigenous peoples, no matter where they come from, to determine their own destiny. It was clear that in many countries people were struggling against the efforts of the dominant culture to force its structure of governance on others, one of the aftereffects of colonization.

One delegate commented that the intimacy of the group enabled us to go into each others' hearts, and to understand, love and tolerate more. Another delegate pointed out that while we were talking about women's role in making peace, we should not forget women's capacity for creating conflict.

Some participants decided to develop peacemaking and compassionate listening seminars for the youth and refugee groups they work with, while others decided to gather with their neighbours to examine how to live out the qualities of a peacemaker. The concept of `kitchen table gatherings' was presented as a framework for creating new initiatives for peace. The workshop also produced a declaration inviting others to `join us in this journey of change of heart so that the 21st century could become a celebration of life'.